Shepherds Bush 1st XI

Saturday, May 22nd 2004 - League

NLCC 1^st XI vs Shepherds Bush
Saturday, 15^th May 2004, LEAGUE, Home

NLCC:

A Hart (Capt.)
M Askew (wkt.) (29 runs)
I Johns
P Mills
P Joseph (44 runs)
D Amedee (19 runs, 2 wickets)
J Green (42 runs)
T Wakeford (28 runs, 4 wickets)
R DeVilliers
N Mathurin (2 wickets)
B Wakeford

After the previous week's weather, this became North London's newly promoted 1^st XI's first outing in division two of the Middlesex County League.  It was also a useful gauge of NLCC's progress since last season, as Shepherds Bush were also promoted from the third division last year as champions. 

On an extremely pleasant day Shepherd's Bush won the toss, and presuming the pitch would still be holding some juice from the previous week's rain, inserted NLCC.  Last year's encounters between these sides saw North London batting second both times; North London scraping a point to Bush's Fourteen.  For this reason, it was not completely disheartening to be having first dip for a change.  It also meant if a reasonable total could be posted, NLCC would be able to exert some pressure Bush's batting line up which showed signs of creaking last year. 

The skipper identified 175 as a par score for the wicket, and this was looking remote as NLCC slumped to 13 for 2 in the fourth over.  Mills departed when he was too early on a leg glance and skied to midwicket, while Johns was brilliantly caught one-handed at slip off a top-edged hook.  These early wickets brought newcomer Patrick Joseph to the crease for his maiden NLCC innings.  With the pressure on and the fielding side on a roll, he proceeded to play a positive and impressive innings that swung the momentum back to NLCC.  Several times he swatted the opening bowlers back over their heads or through midwicket, before unleashing some distinctly Caribbean square drives.  His partner during this entertaining third wicket stand was Mark Askew, who was more than happy to nick and nudge while Patrick despatched the bowling.  It was another fine knock from Askew (29runs), whose consistency from last year has already shown again this season.  Patrick's innings was ended unceremoniously as he attempted a huge wipe to mid-wicket only to be bowled by one of Bush's seamers for 44. 

Dan Amedee batted at five, and added a useful knock of 19, playing a couple of classic off-side stokes and steadying the ship after the fireworks of Patick's innings.  He looked well set to accelerate to a larger score on his return to NLCC first team action, but was castled, while Mark Askew was stumped by several miles the next over, leaving NLCC on 116 for five.

With the NLCC innings in no-mans land, and with Bush's best bowler of last season (Day, who averaged 12.00 with the ball) threatening to find a rhythm, Jim Iceman Green entered the fray.  He proceeded to play the classic 'Iceman' innings, cautiously turning over the strike, and striking timely boundaries when given the opportunity.  He was particularly harsh on anything short, pulling a four and a memorable six off Day, who finished the innings wicketless.  He was supported by Tom Wakeford, who bludgeoned a few boundaries and nicked a few singles, to finish with 28 runs.  The two left-handers put on 64 vital runs to take NLCC to 180 before Wakeford got a leading edge and was caught a mid-off.  DeVilliers and Mathurin didn't trouble the scorers, but the Skipper came in to push NLCC closer to 200 - his innings included a classic driven six over point.  Green continued to bat sensibly and time the ball impeccably, and remained at the crease until the penultimate ball of the innings, whereupon he was denied a red-inka by Ben Wakeford who called through a suicidal single to the 'keeper, not realising there was still another ball to be bowled in the over.  NLCC's final total: 206 all out.

The Wakeford brothers, who last year took all ten of Bush's wickets in the first league encounter, opened the bowling and immediately found a good off-stump line.  The scoring rate was well kept down, despite Tom Wakeford being dispatched to the Power Station (BEHIND the car park).  A replacement ball was required, and it paid dividends for T Wakeford two balls later, as Patrick Mills snared a fine diving catch at slip, just clasping the ball inches from the ground.  Bush attempted to push on, but the introduction of Dan Amedee soon saw the scoring rate slip further downwards, and after he picked up two classic offspinner's wickets - both bat-pad chances, NLCC were in a strong position to push for victory.  Bush's number five, however, had other ideas, and despite offering some sharp chances that were put down by North, he batted extremely well to swing the momentum back their way.  For North London, Nathan Mathurin, making his debut for the 1^st XI, was brought into the attack and soon snared his first victim for the season.  A short delivery was swatted straight to cover, where Ian Johns duly held on to reduce Bush to 80 for four.  Two overs later and Mathurin struck again, this time an absolute Jaffa that was simply too quick for the Bush' number six.  An awful mess was made of his stumps, which Mathurin was quite happy to point out to him as he trudged off the pitch.  The Bush's number five then decided it was time to 'upsize', and proceeded to hit several sixes off Amedee, who had until that point been causing all sorts of problems to the Bush batsmen.  His figures were somewhat ruined, but he had nonetheless bowled an excellent spell of off-spin bowling with men around the bat.  The equation at ten overs to go was fifty to get, five wickets in hand.  After a brief spell down the hill, Ben Wakeford switched ends to replace Amedee, while Tom Wakeford resumed down the hill to try and stem the runs.  His first over brought immediate results, a wicket from a mistimed drive was caught by his brother at deep-mid on, then Bush's main runscorer was snared next ball, as a swinging delivery was nicked to Askew, who also had the presence of mind to take off the bails.  The caught behind wasn't given, but the stumping was.  Suddenly NLCC were back in the hunt.  Ben Wakeford continued to bowl well without luck, while Tom was doing his usual plugging away outside off-stump.  The equation now: 21 off the final three overs, with Bush seven wickets down.  The visitor's captain and number nine survived two chances in an over, before he was adjudged LBW off Tom Wakeford.  It was then that Bush set the sights on the four-point target of 194, which they reached in the final over without much fuss.

Overall this was an excellent game of cricket played competitively but in good spirits, and offered encouraging signs for the rest of the season.  By getting so close to victory here, NLCC clearly showed they had improved from last year.  The skipper was particularly impressed with the positive batting in difficult situations, which enabled NLCC to post a good score despite having the worst of the conditions.  Special mention was also made of the two debutantes, Patrick Joseph and Nathan Mathurin, who both gave excellent accounts of themselves. 

Report by: Fishmonger