Hornsey Cricket Club 2nd Team v Waltham Central on Sun 14 Aug 2005 at 14:00
Hornsey Cricket Club Lost
Hornsey pipped at the post on family Joseph day.
Winning the toss captain Bruce elected to bat leaving Waltham to face the inclement conditions as rain rolled over Alexander Palace in a forty over innings game. Ben Gillings and Richard Welch opened as the Walthem opener delivered an array of deliveries to kick start Gillings total. Welch however was less fortunate as his form of no runs or big runs continued, dismissed for a duck.
Sondhi (20) picked up some quick runs, Waltham proving to be a little inept in the field. The rain interrupted play with an fifteen minute break, which upon return Gillings was out caught. Enter Sam Joseph fresh from a recent loan spell to the second team, playing slowly and sensibly picking his shots. Meanwhile Allen had come to the crease as Sonhi had departed caught.
The run rate ticked as Allen worked the ball around procuring boundaries with consummate ease, but with a hint of desperation, to push the run rate along further. Allen holed out to deep long on for 45 from 46 balls.
McKinnon to the crease who continued where Allen left of and a couple of might six’s pushed the Hornsey total closer to 200. Joseph finally contributed to the run rate and brought in his first senior 50. McKinnon looking to bludgeon the ball for one more time was bowled for 45 leaving Ed Waite a couple of overs to push the score over the 200 mark, which he promptly did with a rapid 9 not out. Joseph closed the Hornsey inning 56 not from 100 balls and a millennium of minutes it was slow but well deserved and definitely due. Rewarding to see a colt rise through the colts system, the third team and deliver at a senior level.
Set 212 to win Waite and Giles opened the bowling and it was obvious that the Waltham number two was going to leather or leave. Yet on Giles’s fourth ball he spooned it high to mid on where it was promptly flannelled by “Club Captain” Bruce….to become an expensive drop…..public stoning would not have been good enough.
Waite bowled with hart but no luck picking up the undeserved figure of 8/0/49/0. Giles however was a little more fortunate picking up the first wicket edged behind to Joseph S one of three catches in a very tidy display of wicket keeping. Despite a few leathered blows Giles bowled a spell of 8/2/27/2 the second wicket caught at mid off by Joseph C one of two from the young colt.
Waltham were scoring freely with a limited array of shots and little or no grace in working the ball around for singles. McKinnon bowled a little erratically and with a lack of patience so it was left to the off spin of the younger Joseph brother, Charlie, to pickup the third wicket caught and bowled.
Down to eight men plus one wounded Aussie blouse, a cracking blow to the ankle. Captain Bruce’s movement round the field like that of HMS Nottingham….grounded. Hornsey were in disarray as heads went down and the fielding became tardy.
Never the less an inspired bowling change brought Allen, 5-33, into the attack and quickly fortunes changed. Having removed the opener for 80, Allen went about the Waltham tail with devastating impact to set up Hornsey needing 3 wickets and Waltham 20 runs.
Bruce finally entered the bowling attack contributing a wicket from his second delivery. This was going to be a close finish, third test like, one wicket for Hornsey two runs for Waltham. With the game tied it was young Charlie Joseph who was given the chance to shine against Waltham's number eleven. Unfortunately it was a bye that ended the game in Walthams favour.
Despite being down to eight and a half men, plus lapses of less than disciplined fielding, Hornsey did very well to bring the game into the very last over. The senior players contributing as should be expected in such games but the day should be remembered for the Joseph brothers, Sam’s first fifty, tidy wicket keeping and taking three good catches. Whilst young Charlie taking two very good catches and showing great promise with his off spin.
Hornsey Cricket Club 2nd Team Batting
211 for 5
Waltham Central Bowling
Waltham Central Batting
212 for 9
Hornsey Cricket Club 2nd Team Bowling