Ley Hill vs Hawridge & Cholesbury, 5th June 2004
Will Holman
Ley Hill Seconds scored a superb triumph over local rivals Hawridge & Cholesbury, with Kash Shakoor the Hill's ton-up hero. While the youngster's slick, refined century was the highlight of the game, it was a tight performance in the field that laid the foundations for our comfortable seven-wicket win.
The
Hill's second-string has made a confident start to life in Division Two, with
just one loss from four games. Hill started strongly with some tight bowling
from Gary Helm (left) and Will Rothwell - at least after the latter started to pitch
the ball in the batsman's half. An early breakthrough only brought ex-Ley Hill
favourite Sen Sinniah to the wicket, and the Sri Lankan was soon exhibiting a
wide array of cultured strokes.
Despite Sinniah's nagging presence on his way to a half century in a big partnership with number five Saunders, the visitors were never really in charge. Cunning veteran Keith Richardson and half-cut paceman Brian Puddephatt kept the runs down, aided by some nimble fielding from all in the side that brought three run outs. Wickets began to fall, and Ley Hill did well to keep the dangerman Saunders off the strike as Hawridge limped to a final score of 189 for 8.
Will
Holman (right) and Kash Shakoor opened up the batting for Ley Hill, immediately laying
down a run rate significantly quicker than that required for victory. A
promising partnership was broken when Holman played three shots to one ball,
resulting in zero bails and five expletives. Graham Harrison joined Shakoor to
put on a handy partnership, before his wicket fell to bring Puddephatt to the
stumps. After an ideal preparation of three pints at tea, Puddephatt strode in
and launched a series of massive slogs to all corners of cow corner.
Frustrations soon boiled over in the opposition, the visiting wicket keeper
throwing a quite farcical tantrum when Puddephatt was given not out to a hopeful run out
shout.
These contributions were all helpful to the Hill's cause, but it was Shakoor who was the brilliant backbone to the innings. The 17 year-old sometimes lacks confidence in his approach, but there were no signs of this as he put the visitors' attack to the sword. An artful, highly-effective innings progressed onwards past fifty and accelerated away further as Dave Craddock joined the youngster at the stumps. Craddock, himself sculpting a canny knock, nobly stepped aside to allow Shakoor a shot at his century. Two straight boundaries later, Kash unleashed a mighty six to secure victory and his own ton. The plaudits were rightly his, but the tight team performance in restricting Hawridge to 189 on a friendly pitch should not be understated.
Ley Hill won by 7 wickets
Hawridge: 189 for 8 (Will Rothwell 2 for 43)
Ley Hill: 194 for 3 (Kash Shakoor 104 not out, Puddephatt 41)
Man
of the Match: Kash Shakoor is rapidly establishing himself as the Hill's
most promising cricketer - and the best fantasy league buy of the season.
Clown of the Match: The opposition keeper who dared to take on Brian
Puddephatt.