Under 9 Match Reports

Chorleywood 233 for 2 wickets 20pts
Old Albanians 190 for 8 wickets 1pt

Chorleywood had eagerly awaited this game following the narrow loss by 2 runs when we visited them earlier in the season.

Chorleywood won the toss and elected to field. Old Albanian's had the worst possible start with Chorleywoods skipper Aaran hitting the stumps with the first ball of the match to claim the first of 4 victims.

Whilst no further wickets fell in the next 5 overs the home side bowling was tight and the visitors foundit difficult to score runs.

As the game progressed Old Albanian's had to take chances to set some sort of a target but the bowlers prevailed and each of the last 2 pairs lost 3 wickets with the final score on 190 for 8.

Best bats were Jonathan and Parky who both contributed 5 off the bat without loss. Aaran's final figures were 4 for 12 off 3 overs with support from Andrew 2 for 9 off 3 and Mr reliable - Shammi with 1 for 4 off 3.

In reply Neel and Raj opened steadily but there was a wobble as the second pair lost 2 wickets one well bowled by Sam Old Albanian's most successful bowler and the other to a careless run out.

Despite this the third pair took over at 210 for 2 they and the final pair took the score to 233 without further loss. There was no pressure and they batted sensibly to achieve the result. Once again the win was based on the success and accuracy of the bowlers.

I am glad to say that the game was played in an excellent spirit and the sun shone.

Rickmansworth 188 for 7 wickets
Chorleywood 244 for 3 wickets

Chorleywood win.

Rickmansworth put us in to bat and we found it difficult to score runs - whilst the boundaries were quite short the grass in the out field was quite long and the boys were not used to playing on a matting wicket. We received a regular supply of extra - mainly wides worth 40 runs.

Each of the pairs advanced the score despite the opening pair suffering a run out off the firstball. Two further wickets were lost one to a good catch the other was bowled. We ended up with 244 for 3. I was happy with that as our strength lies with our bowlers.

Rickmansworth's first pair took the score to 205 for 1 thereafter each pair lost runs with the final score being 188 for 7. We won by 56 runs and Ricky's manager was not happy, he had expected me to give all 8 boys 2 overs each. I did not bowl the keeper and 2 boys bowled 3 overs !!

Shammi Popat is a relevation - on this occassion he took 2 wickets in his 3 overs all of which were maidens - difficult to beat. So far this season he has bowled 18 overs 7 maidens 7 wickets for 21 runs and 11 extras. At this age to average under 1 wide per 3 overs is as good as I have seen and he has suddenly started bowling off the wrong foot!!

Three different managers have now told me that our bowlers are the best they have seen at this age group for some years.

Conceeding one game to Harpenden and two against Berkhamsted lost to rain is against us but both of these sides are bottom of the table. We lost to O.A.'s by 2 runs they are top Tring are second and we have beaten them twice their only losses and we have won one and lost one to Redbourn who are third all very frustrating.

We will have a good try at beating O.A's on Sunday and we should beat Harpenden in the final game - depending how the other results pan out we could end up second. What I suppose I am saying is that this squad has real potential for the future.

We will need to work on the batting for next year but the basics are coming through and they are beginning to work as a team quite an achievement for this age level.

Not all the news is bad !!!

Match cancelled due rain and waterlogged pitch.

Both teams awarded 10 points each.

Chorleywood 249 for 2 wickets 20pts
Tring Park2 215 for 4 wickets 1pt

What a lovely evening for cricket and quite a change. Having won the toss Wood offered the visitors first knock. They proceeded steadily weith their second pair Naveen and Lawrie contributing the best partnership of 13 runs including 9 off the bat without the loss of a wicket, to leave the score on 218 for 1.

Chorleywood bowlers being mean with the extras, was a good start but now they also took wickets in fact the next pair lost 3 wickets handing over to the final pair on 205 for 4. they took that to 215 without further loss.

For the Wood Luke had 2 for 7 off 2 overs but whilst he took no wickets, this time ,Shammi turned in another good performance of 3 overs for 5 runs including only 2 extras.

Wood were now in the enviable position of knowing that the only way they could lose this game was by throwing away wickets, in the event they lost two,the first to a reckless lofted hit in the eighth over to provide a well taken catch and the second in the final over when the game was already won.

Naveen Tring's best bowler clean bowling Andrew. Wood were in front from the fifth over and each pair made a positive contribution leaving them winners by 34 runs. Raj and Neel gave the home side a good steady start so the rest of the bats had it easy.

The game was won by the bowlers who whilst they took only 4 wickets they conceeded only half the extras gifted by the visitors

Chorleywood were unable to field a team.

Harpenden 20 points.

Old Albanian 239 for 4 wickets 20pts
Chorleywood 237 for 3 wickets 3pts

Chorleywood put OAs into bat and provided a fine display of bowling. Andrew took the first wicket clean bowling Sam who had allowed his confidence to get the better of him after a nice 4, and followed up later on clean bowling Luke. Parky scored a fine 9 not out for OAs and Kit was 5 also not out.

Shami achieved a wicket maiden and a maiden, and only conceded 2 runs off his other over. Luke took a fine catch off Jonathan's bowling to dismiss Cam. Old Albanians ended on 239 for the loss of 4 wickets.

Chorleywood looked well placed to win the match as they stepped out to bat, however the OAs bowling contained them effectively and the first pair scored just 1 off the bat after 4 overs that included a fine maiden from Kit.

Even so, OA were slow to take wickets until Jonathan was run out off Parky's bowling and the next over Cam bowled Thomas then Jonathan in consecutive balls. The final pair of Arun and Andrew were sent in needing 27 to win and set to work gamely, scoring 7 apiece but ending up on 237 for 3 wickets - 2 short of their target.

Chorleywood 285 for 2 wickets 20pts
Rickimansworth 184 for 7 wickets 1 point

Chorleywood won the toss and offerred the visitors first strike. Rickmansworth struggled to score runs from the start against some reasonable bowling and regularly lost wickets.

Chorleywood also fielded well and took two wickets through run outs Shammi Popat doing particularly well to throw down the wicket from over 30 yards, an excellent piece of fielding which took away the opositions confidence to go for runs.

In the end they only managed 11 runs off the bat. Aaran Amin was the best bowler with 2w for 2runs off 3overs.

In response Chorleywood batted sensibly under no pressure and steadily accummulated runs losing their first wicket in the 8th over on 248.

A further wicket from a silly run out in the 13th over was a waste but runs came regularly including 34 off the bat as all batsmen contributed to some extent. Alex Harris and Jonathan Kennedy both scored 6 and Jonathan had another steady performance as keeper.

Chorleywood won. 20pts

Chorleywood 246 for 2 wickets 3pts
Redbourn 304 for 3 wickets 20pts

This was Chorleywood's first game played, the first fixture having been rained off, - and it showed.

They batted soberly and ended with a reasonable score of 246 for 2w. Best bat was Tom Richards with 7n.o.

In reply 'Wood were still in the game at 253 for 3 after 12 overs but the last pair for Redbourn, Tom Copp and Sam Crompton had different ideas.

Aided by some poor bowling they enjoyed a series of leg side long hops which they duly dispatched.

The end result was 51 runs off the last four overs to give the visitors a well deserved victory by 58 runs.Hopefully Chorleywood learned their lesson - but only time will tell.

Match cancelled due rain and waterlogged pitch.

Both teams awarded 10 points each.