Hawridge & Cholesbury vs Ley Hill Firsts
17th June 2006

Robin Carr

The local derby between Ley Hill and Hawridge had an extra twist this year – Ley Hill are bottom of the Kookaburra Mid-Bucks Premier League and Hawridge are top.  And it didn’t take long to see why.

Batting first, Hawridge made an excellent 250-9 declared after 41 overs.  Opener Gunasekara scored an impressive 72 from 72 balls before being well caught low-down by keeper Nick Lee – one of three excellent catches he took. Gunasekara was ably supported by Daluwatta (15) in a 2^nd wicket stand of 92.  White scored 44 and Pritchett 21 as H & C piled on the runs.  The 51 extras they picked up also added to the pressure placed on the Hill. 

Ley Hill’s junior bowler Scott Peterson took 2–48 including a wicket maiden and Az Shakoor took 3-65 as Ley Hill toiled in the very hot conditions.  Andy Rennard deserved better figures than 1-51 in his 11 over spell. 

Batting, Ley Hill were soon under the cosh and found themselves 47-5 after only 11 overs. Jahagir’s 26, Andy Spinks’s 20 and Kash Shakoor’s 17 pushed the score along a little but Ley Hill were all out for 111 after only 28 overs. 

Daluwatta’s excellent spell of 4-47 from 10 overs did most of the damage, although it was Robin Pritchett’s excellent spell of 3-7 from 4 overs that finally finished off the Hill for an excellent victory for H & C.  

Ley Hill will have a tough battle this summer if they are to keep their place in the Premier League, whilst the superb H & C look to be more than capable of wresting the title away from Hughenden Valley.