1st XI vs Wycombe House
Saturday, 2nd August 2003 - League
North London CC Vs Wycombe House CC, away
Result: NLCC 253-6dec off 52 overs (4pts), Wycombe House 200-9 off 48 overs (1pt).
North London put in their best overall team performance of the season in this excellent game of cricket. NLCC lost the toss and were inserted on a dry pitch that offered consistently low bounce and little pace. Things did not bode well for the Crouch Enders when opener Jamie Russell (0) was harshly adjudged LBW in the second over. This brought another young player looking to establish himself in the side, Jack Godfrey-Wood, to the crease. Immediately he got into his stride with some excellent square driving that raced over the already scorched outfield and it came as a disappointment to the spectators when he fell driving loosely to deep extra cover for 35. Due to the absence of regulars Ian Johns and Richard Swann, Mark askew had been asked to return to last season’s opening role and he proved a capable replacement playing the innings, and shot of the day. This came in the form of a Caribbean lofted square drive over point that never climbed above 8 metres and sent the crowd scattering for cover as it clattered onto the clubhouse roof for six. The score raced along as Askew and the hard-hitting Mills pushed the score over the hundred-mark. A mini-collapse was initiated by a cruel bounce trapping Askew (59) in front and Mills (23) dragging a wide one onto his stumps, but NLCC are a more resilient side than in recent years especially when ‘ice-man’ Jim Green (28) is playing. He and Tom Wakeford (12), both wrong-handers, played sensibly to pull the score up to around 180. Both again departed in swift succession and again North London rallied with the skipper Alistair Hart (28) and the returning Simon Mann (37) belying their years by scampering between the wickets like a couple of demented jack-rabbits. 253 was a fine score to post on the wicket provided.
Wycombe house began positively as always, but veteran Tom Amedee is a difficult man to take for 6 an over and he proved his worth taking all of the first four wickets. Tom Wakeford, usually so prolific in the wicket taking department, was rather neutered by the low bounce, and so it was left to his older brother Ben to try and fire out Houses mid and late order. With assistance from Rian de Villiers, who took a wicket, Wakeford senior reaped the rewards of bowling straight under pressure bowling two and trapping another LBW. It wasn’t quite enough though as House finally shut up shop with two wickets remaining. Their number ten ensured some late drama by foolishly backing up too far and being run out. But the last pair managed to survive the last two overs to gain their side a point.
NLCC go to Hampton Wick Royal next week with renewed hope of promotion as Harrow town, currently second, only picked up a point at North Middlesex.
Men Of the Match- Tom Amedee (bowling), Mark Askew (batting).
Carrying the Kit- Jamie Russell, (sorry mate but everyone else got their legs out of the way when that umpire was on strike!)
Report by: Victor Wakeford