1st XI vs Shepherds Bush
Saturday, 6th September 2003 - League
JUDGEMENT DAY
NLCC – RICHARD SWANN, IAN JOHNS, JACK GODFREY-WOOD, PATRICK MILLS, MARK ASKEW(wk), JIM GREEN, TOM WAKEFORD, ALISTAIR HART(*), RIAAN deVILLIERS, BEN WAKEFORD, TOM AMEDEE.
NLCC WON TOSS AND ELECTED TO BOWL FIRST.
SBCC 249-8 (48 OVERS)
NLCC 199-8 (48 OVERS)
SBCC 4 POINTS, NLCC 1 POINT.
It was a close run thing on Saturday at Shepherds Cot as NLCC sealed promotion to Division 2 of the Middlesex County League for the first time in a proud 126 year history. Close that is, between money spent on mobile telephone calls to Bessborough (where promotion rivals Harrow Town were playing), and money subsequently spent over the NLCC bar celebrating the promotion into the early hours of Sunday morning!
NLCC entered their final league game, at home to champions, Shepherds Bush, 3 points ahead of promotion rivals Harrow Town. This meant that a win for North London would seal 2nd place and promotion to Division 2, and a draw would leave Harrow Town needing a win in their final league game at Bessborough. Fortunately North London’s 3rd XI were also playing at Bessborough and were therefore able to keep a close eye on proceedings in the Harrow Town game.
Having won the toss, NLCC skipper, Alistair Hart invited Shepherds Bush to have first use of what appeared to be another run filled wicket at NLCC. The Wakeford brothers shared the new ball in their personal battle to be the first to reach 50 league wickets for the season. Tom, who started the day with 47 wickets compared to Ben’s 48 overtook his brother, by taking the first 3 wickets to fall to reach his own personal landmark, a remarkable achievement for a bowler who had not taken more than 20 wickets in any previous league season. Tom Amedee replaced Ben Wakeford after 5 wicketless overs, and Amedee soon took the 4th wicket to reduce Bush to 68-4.
At this point NLCC appeared to be well on top on a good batting wicket, but Bush then showed why they have won the league, by producing the most decisive partnership of the match. Australian, Byron Tudor(76), and Edward Reynolds(52) added 99 for the 5th wicket as Bush continued to play positively, scoring at 4 or 5 runs per over throughout. Patrick Mills broke the partnership, having Reynolds LBW on the sweep to his off spinners, and Tom Wakeford returned to break Tudor’s partnership with Bush skipper Colin Day(25), leaving the visitors handily placed at 205-6.
Rain then intervened, depriving the match of 4 overs, and when play resumed the ball soon became saturated. Bush continued to play in positive fashion, declaring after 48 overs on 249-8. Tom Wakeford finished with 5-59, and Tom Amedee 2-76.
NLCC therefore had to score 250 off 48 overs to assure themselves of promotion. To do that against the Bush attack they would need a solid start, and aimed to leave themselves about 120 off the last 20 overs with no more than 3 wickets down. Richard Swann, and Ian Johns negotiated the new ball bowlers well, before Swann fell to the first change bowler, Tim Howard for 21. Jack Godfrey-Wood followed cheaply, and at 50-2 NLCC urgently required a partnership. Patrick Mills joined Ian Johns for a flurry of boundaries before Mills was unlucky to chop a wide delivery onto off stump for 17. At 100-3 the game was in the balance, but the loss of Mark Askew and Jim Green cheaply left NLCC in the precarious position of 130-5. Tom Wakeford(14) then shared an entertaining partnerhip with Ian Johns, raising the score past 150 before being bowled by a useful delivery from Bush leg-spinner Usmani.
News had now reached Shepherds Cot that Harrow Town required 160 off 14 overs to win their match at Bessborough, which looked unlikely, and meant that a draw may be enough for NLCC. When Alistair Hart joined Ian Johns, they decided to play for the draw. Johns however continued to dispatch the bad ball, and with 10 overs to go NLCC were 173-6, needing 77 for victory. In different circumstances this may have been an interesting proposition, but with so much at stake the tactics were not altered. With a handful of overs remaining Hart was dismissed LBW to Howard for 7. Riaan deVilliers had to restrain his attacking instincts to help Johns ensure the draw, and when Johns was given caught behind with 4 balls remaining for an excellent 103 Ben Wakeford was left to negotiate the final 4 deliveries which he accomplished with the minimum of fuss. NLCC closed on 199-8 to claim a vital 1 point for the losing draw.
Cue a surge in the profits of all mobile phone companies as NLCC players hit their phones for a running commentary on the conclusion of the Harrow Town v Bessborough match from the NLCC 3rd XI who were watching. The champagne corks finally popped when Harrow Town required 30 off the final 4 balls.
A proud day in the history of NLCC, who will for the first time be playing their cricket at a higher standard than any of their rivals in N8 next season. Happy Days!!!
MoM - Shared between Ian Johns (4th hundred in 6 league innings), and Tom Wakeford (5-59, to give him 52 league wickets)
CTK – nobody, this was a great team effort, as was the entire season.
Report by: Skipper