UXBRIDGE CRICKET CLUB SAT 2nd XI v Barnet B's on Sat 12 May 2007 at 1.30
UXBRIDGE CRICKET CLUB Won by Nine Wickets - 10 Points
Uxbridge’s hopes of a positive start to their campaign for promotion back to the Premier League were washed away at Enfield as the April showers arrived a month late.
Uxbridge managed to fit five and a half overs of action in before the rain set, but despite the weather having ceased for over an hour and both captain’s in fighting mood for a reduced overs match, the umpires decreed the pitch unfit to play and the tie was subsequently abandoned.
The weather at Park Road was just as inclement but the second and third teams patiently waited until play was possible, resulting in convincing wins against Barnet B’s and Enfield respectively leaving the pair perched at the top of their tables.
The seconds had to wait until 3pm before play was possible, reducing the tie to a maximum of 67 overs between the sides. New captain Gareth Stoneman won the toss and had no hesitation in asking the visitors to bat on a green and damp wicket.
Barnet B’s came to the crease with the intention to score runs quickly, secure in the belief that it was their best form of defence against the new ball that seamed at will off the grassy pitch. Their game-plan had merit as they reached 30 before the loss of the first wicket, although this was largely due to a poor fielding display by Uxbridge in which ten catches were floored throughout the innings.
Vishal Kakkar had been the recipient of a number of these let offs by the Park Road side before skipper Stoneman trapped him LBW for 27, the first victim on the way to career-best figures of six for 54 from 13 overs. James Wood followed up the initial breakthrough by having Kakkar’s opening partner A. Madaan (5) caught low at first slip by Chris Alder after an accurate and sustained spell of swing bowling.
Little resistance was met from the remainder of Barnet’s batsmen as Steve Wright continued the havoc caused by the moving ball, claiming two for 17 from his six overs and instigating a run out on debut as Barnet were dismissed for just 104 in only 29 overs.
With 44 overs to reach their target the run-rate was never going to be a problem for the hosts, but the dark clouds forming over Uxbridge Common did threaten to rain on their parade.
Woods was promoted to open the batting to add an attacking impetus at the start of the innings, clubbing 31 from just 30 balls to put the home side ahead of both Barnet and the weather. Barnet went through a repertoire of six bowlers in an effort to capture further wickets but the guile of the returning Michael Darvill (32) and experience of Alder (27) saw both men remain unbeaten as Uxbridge reached their target in just 19.2 overs.
The third team followed a similar pattern to their counterparts, waiting for the pitch to become playable before winning the toss and inserting the opposition. Chris Darvill (three for 29) and Mujtaba Siddiqui (two for 17) had Enfield reeling at 23 for five before a small stand halted Uxbridge’s progress. A wicket apiece for Suk Buttar, Sam Perez and debutant Jonathan Anderson, interspersed by a run out from Zabi Maqsoodi, left 10 man Enfield all out for 86.
Little effort was wasted in chasing the runs as Nick Zala (24) and Maqsoodi (11) got Uxbridge off to a steady start before Anderson’s innings of 41 not out steered his new side to victory and 10 points.
UXBRIDGE CRICKET CLUB SAT 2nd XI Batting
107 for 1
Barnet B's Bowling
| Z. Shoaib |
1.1 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0.00 |
3.43 |
| S. Bunger |
3.0 |
0 |
28 |
0 |
0.00 |
9.33 |
| N. Sohail |
4.5 |
0 |
21 |
1 |
21.00 |
4.34 |
| H. Bilal |
4.0 |
0 |
17 |
0 |
0.00 |
4.25 |
| A. Madaan |
5.2 |
0 |
32 |
0 |
0.00 |
6.00 |
| V. Kakkar |
1.0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0.00 |
2.00 |
Barnet B's Batting
104 for 10
| A. Madaan |
5 |
Caught |
| V. Kakkar |
27 |
Lbw |
| M. Asghar |
3 |
Caught |
| R. Sharma |
11 |
Caught |
| A. Martinez |
17 |
Bowled |
| G. Bhart |
0 |
Run out |
| N. Sohail |
9 |
Caught |
| H. Bilal |
0 |
Bowled |
| S. Ali |
9 |
Not Out |
| Z. Shoaib |
10 |
Caught |
| S. Bunger |
0 |
Bowled |
UXBRIDGE CRICKET CLUB SAT 2nd XI Bowling