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Aspenden Standon & Puckeridge

Scorecard

Potter Street v Aspenden Standon & Puckeridge Saturday League Team on Sat 26 May 2007 at 1.30pm
Aspenden Standon & Puckeridge Won BY 19 RUNS

Match report A gloomy day with the promise of rain later in the afternoon was to herald a marvellous victory for Aspenden as they lost the toss and were inserted by the team equal on points with them at the top of the table.

Against one of the division's stronger bowling attacks all the Aspenden players carried out the side's batting plan to perfection. An opening stand of 78 between Strange and Booth created the ideal platform. Booth fell for a solid 28 and there followed a partnership between Strange and Groom of 61 before the latter was bowled for 21. Strange went 16 runs later for a well compiled 82 and Potter Street felt they were back in the game. However a further partnership of 64 between Potter and Yates followed to ensure that Aspenden retained the upper hand. The visitors closed on 219-4 with Potter being selflessly stumped off the last ball for a superb 52.

There was rain in the air as the Potter Street reply began against some controlled bowling from Sapsford and Thompson. Sapsford bowled Katoch only to be denied by an extraordinarily late call of no ball which heightened the tension. Aspenden were not, however, to be disheartened by this as their fighting spirit came to the fore with another period of pressure inducing bowling. Potter Street by now were looking at the run rate despite having yet to lose a wicket. Some panicked running and poor shot selection led to Katoch self destructing as Potter bowled him for 28. Wise joined Wager at the wicket for Potter Street and they continued to play solidly. By now the rain was falling and the lush outfield was soaked. The bowlers could not grip the ball as full toss after full toss was bowled. This period of wayward bowling enabled Potter Street to progress to requiring a little over a hundred with 9 wickets in hand. It was time for Yates and the Potter Street captain Rose to have a chat. A replacement ball was provided and the skippers agreed to review the position in 5 overs.

Pankhurst and Albon found the ball easier to control as Aspenden began to place a strangle hold on the game. Wager , Lenihan and Ahmed fell in quick succession to Albon and when Pankhurst took a great catch off his own bowling to dismiss Rose, Aspenden could smell victory. It was during this passage of play that Booth was struck above the eye attempting a take one down the leg side off Albon. He was forced to retire temporarily as the eye began to close and Baxter took over wicket keeping duties. The absence of the offer of a substitute fielder served only to galvanise the visitors who continued in their determined effort for victory.

By now, however, it was not only raining but also getting dark. The Potter Street players appealed against the light as Wise, who had just reached 50, felt that he could not see the ball properly. Time for another chat between the two captains. With five wickets down and an ever increasing run rate the Potter Street players clearly did not want to continue. After 10 minutes of deliberation, while the light worsened and the street lights came on, it was agreed that Aspenden would bowl spin from both ends. Booth had returned to the field patched up with one good eye.

There was only really ever going to be one way his game could finish and the fat lady was beginning to warm up her vocal cords. First Wise and then Sherjeel threw their wickets away with soft run outs. Albon continued to bowl well as Groom's second catch removed Tahir off his bowling. With 9 wickets down and needing 21 off 3 overs,the Potter Street batsmen again appealed against the light. They had of course chosen to field first and when the Aspenden players had stopped laughing at this ridiculous request, Strange continued, wrapping things up by bowling Khawata thus sealing victory for Aspenden by 19 runs.

This was a hard fought league game, during which tempers occasionally became frayed on both sides. Aspenden can be well pleased not only with with their win but in particular the manner of it. Adversity can be difficult to deal with, particularly on the cricket pitch. The difference between this Aspenden side and those of previous seasons is that it seems prepared to dig in when needed and grind out a result. Never was this better typified than today.

Champagne moment: Bingo returning to the field with one eye shut and the determination of the Aspenden players to strive for victory when the game was still in the balance rather than accept an abandonment.

Aspenden Standon & Puckeridge Saturday League Team Batting

Player Name		Runs	Ct
extras TOTAL :	for 4 wickets	0 219
Michael Strange	Bowled	82
Mathieu Booth	Caught	28
Simon Groom	Bowled	21	2
Mark Potter	Stumped	52
John Yates	Not Out	15
Ben Sapsford
Simon Lindsay
Miles Thompson
Clark Baxter
Mark Pankhurst			1
John Albon

Potter Street Bowling

Player name	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Average	Economy
No records to display.

Potter Street Batting

Player name		R
extras TOTAL :	for 10 wickets	0 200 (0.0 overs)