Match Report

Sunday 07 August 2011, at Ley Hill CC, Ashridge Road, Ley Hill, Buckinghamshire - Drawn (Ref. 201118)

The players of both sides were left wondering who would have won a delicately poised match when steady rain delayed the resumption after the tea interval. Ironically, as soon as the decision was made to abandon at 5.45pm, with rain still falling and time running out for the home side to have an hour plus 20 overs, the rain stopped soon afterwards and the sun came out. It would have been interesting to know whether the 202 made by Wealdstone Corinthians represented a below par score, or whether it could have posed problems for Ley Hill chasing on a damp pitch. Despite being 0 for 1 wicket after 2 overs the visitors scored at a healthy rate, mainly thanks to a fluent display of hitting from Dharmik Shah, in a second wicket partnership of 81. Andy Naylor, who also made his highest score of the season, anchored the innings and added 39 with John Wakeling for the 6th wicket. Steve Stratford and the tail then ensured the 200 mark was reached, whilst slow left-armer Paul Green took five wickets with increasingly exaggerated flight as the innings progressed.

Corinthians 202 (38.3 overs), D Shah 70 (48 balls), A Naylor 48 (74 balls), J Wakeling 20 (17 balls), S Stratford 20* (29 balls), P Green 5-53

In the first over of the day Corinthians lost skipper Steve Brown, who was well held by Martin at second slip off Woodbridge. In the 5th over the same bowler almost dismissed the other opener the same way, but this slip catch was spilled and Naylor got off the mark. Having played out two maidens from Durbeville he then notched the first of his nine fours, clipping Woodbridge to the short leg side boundary, but it was Dharmik Shah who really upped the tempo. He hit two boundaries in an over off each of the bowlers, before savagely cutting Woodbridge for three fours and a six in the 13th over. This gave him the rare achievement of taking both the team's score and his personal score past 50 in the same over, the latter off 41 balls faced. For good measure, after a single from Naylor that took him to 9, Dharmik twice drove Durbeville through the covers in an over costing 11, and the new ball bowlers were rested at 72-1 after 14 overs.

They were replaced by two experienced left-armers who each took a wicket in their first over. After two more fours, one over the slips, Dharmik was bowled for a magnificent 70 that included 13 fours and a six. In Green's first over Chris Brown scooped him to cover and was easily caught for 1. Naylor glanced Peterson for 4, then Malcolm Turness hit Green for two boundaries, one over long off that was close to being a six. His partner, who was gaining momentum, responded with consecutive leg side fours off Peterson, before an eventful Green over that saw Turness caught at cover, John Wakeling get off the mark first ball with a six over mid wicket and add a four later in the over. He then added another boundary off each bowler before being bowled through the gate by Peterson. Chris Brosnan got off the mark first ball, and Naylor took advantage of a packed leg side field by driving through the vacant covers for his first off side four. The innings stuttered when Stretch missed a straight ball from the slower left-armer, and Naylor was adjudged LBW to the quicker. It was 158-7 in only the 29th over. Steve Stratford and Ankit Patel both got off the mark with a boundary and added 23 before Ankit was bowled to give Green his fourth victim. A couple of balls later Phil Cundy was the fifth when he could only top edge to short fine leg to a ball that bounced more than expected. A lively last wicket partnership saw Martin Beasley score 16 of the 21 runs, including stylish consecutive fours off Phillips, before being bowled next ball.

Ley Hill - did not bat, due to rain

Man of the Match: Dharmik Shah