3's lose last game of the season

The 3's final league game was at the Shenley Cricket Centre to face Shenley Village IV.

The skipper called wrong and the opposition stuck the Village into bat.

Chalky Cara (0) and Gabriel Radus (4) opened the batting and Chalky was out in the first over as he was caught to bring James Thompson (63) to the crease. The skipper would take 10 runs off his first over to get the Village going before Gabriel was caught in the 8th over to see Inthikhab Mazeez (0) join the skipper, but he lasted 2 balls as he was caught by the bowler. Mohamed Salahudeen (0) was next in but he went in the next over to leave the Village 17-4 which brought Paul Simpson (49) to the crease with the Village needing a salvage job to get back into the game. Thankfully both the skipper and Paul played sensibly first up to make sure they did not lose their wickets cheaply and then steadily began to up the run rate as it became easier to score. At drinks the score had reached 67-4 and the Village had a platform to build on. The skipper and Paul were both set and managed to get the Village past 100 with James reaching a well deserved 50 along the way and they were looking at a total of about 160-170. The 31st over would put and end to that as firstly the skipper got out before Farzan Dulker Nain (0) got out the next ball to leave the Village 116-6. This would soon become 120-7 as Paul chipped one up and was caught one short of what would have been a deserved first 50 for the club. Mathan Mahalingam (20) and Paramalingam Mathievanan (5) were the next in and Mathan was looking to push the score on as he was hitting over the top and scored a quick fire 20 before he was caught. Tommy Smith (0) was next in and he was caught to bring Dave Knight (0*) to the crease but it was Paramalingam who was last to go also caught. The Village had amassed 147 and all of the wickets had fallen to catches.

Tommy Smith (1-39) and Mathan Mahalingam (0-20) opened the bowling for the Village and Shenley started quickly as Tommy was replaced after 2 overs with the score on 24. Inthikhab Mazeez (2-23) replaced him and both he and Mathan bowled nicely to get the run rate down. Inthi would be the first to strike as a simple chance was taken behind the stumps by the skipper. Mohamed Salahudeen (1-21) replaced Mathan and in his first over he had a wicket thanks to a great diving catch by Gabriel Radus. The number 2 batsman for Shenley was smashing the ball to most parts and he looked to be the key wicket if the Village were going to end the season with a win. Inthi would get the next wicket as he bowled the number 4 batsman and at drinks the opposition were 81-3, which was ahead of where the Village were at the same point. Farzan Dulker Nain (1-21) and Dave Knight (1-17) replaced Inthi and Mo and the next wicket came as Farzan bowled the number 5 before Dave got in on the act as he got a wicket thanks to a good catch by Chalky Cara at gully to leave the opposition 98-5 off of 25 overs. The number 2 batsman had already passed his fifty and was looking to see the game out so Tommy and Mathan came back on and Tommy would pick up his wicket thanks to a catch by Mathan, 127-6. The game was slipping away and Chalky Cara (1-4) came on and got a wicket before the last ball of his over was hit for the winning runs as the opposition and mainly their number 2 batsman who would end on 93 not out saw the game through with 7 overs remaining.

A poor start and end with the bat saw the Village post a below par score with only James Thompson and Paul Simpson showing any real fight as they put on a partnership of 99 for the 5th wicket. Inthikhab Mazeez was the only one to pick up 2 wickets and bowled nicely but the outcome may have been a lot different had the Village got the number 2 batsman out early.