North London V Wycombe House

NLCC 288 for 6 dec

Wycombe House 265 all out

On the hottest day of the year so far, the boys from North London turned up the heat on division three rivals Wycombe house, in what had always promised to be, a sizzling contest.

Put into bat, the Crouch End team started briskly; opening pair of Johns and Swann working the ball around with ease. Helped by a flat wicket both were in scintillating form, blasting the hapless Wycombe House bowlers to all parts, as they passed the fifty partnership, in only seven overs. When Johns chipped tamely into the covers for 33, the seeds of a big total had already been sown. Jamie Russell (19) entered to play a mature, stable innings but, in truth, needn’t had bothered, as Swann stepped on the accelerator. The twenty-for-year old left-hander wonderfully illustrated all the shots in the book, throughout his colourful 102. The Wycombe house fielders could only watch on as Swann spent the afternoon belittling a sombre attack, carving the ball up around the ground. When their punishment finally ceased after two hours Swann had struck the ball over the line 21 times, once without bouncing.

Jim Green (33) ran well between the wickets, timing an artistic innings well. At the end Tom Wake ford (27) bludgeoned to effect as North London racked up massive 288 for 6 Dec.

If the home side had thought they’d amassed enough runs not to lose, they were quickly put on the back foot. The visitors’ opening pair set off as if they had a train to catch, reaching fifty in only five overs. The usually reliable Tom Wakeford found himself under the cosh, in a flurry of post tea runs. It was left for the more experienced of the Wakeford brothers, Ben, to take a grip. A veteran of first team cricket, Ben, smartly found the right length to bowl. Containing the House batsman with the majority backwards of a length deliveries, he managed to slow down the run scoring juggernaut and get the home side back on top. His three wickets came at the right moments breaking three valuable partnerships and in truth put the brakes on what was a previously out of control innings.

From here on in North London’s scoreboard pressure started to tell as wickets kept tumbling. Ian Johns’ off-spin picked up a valuable wicket and Tom wakeford finished with 5-88. But it was the senior pro, Ben wakeford who will have picked up the most plaudits.

By the time the end came Wycome had fallen valiantly behind the rate and were struggling to live with the Crouch Enders’. As the final wicket fell Tom Wakefords fifth, the visitors must have wondered where it had all gone wrong. Overall North London did eventually manage to out play their opposition in all departments, but the fielding is where the biggest gulf appeared. This, in truth, was where this hard fought match was both won and lost.

NLCC

Ian Johns

Richard Swann

Jamie Russell

Pat Mills

Mark Askew

Jim Green

Maroof Anwar

Robbie Toombs

Tom Wakeford

Ben Wakeford

Ali Hart

Man of the match: Richard Swann- A blisteringly classy hundred

Carrying the kit: Ian Johns for missing out on a big hundred