Scorecard

Ongar Cricket Club Saturday 1st XI v Old Brentwoods on Sat 09 May 2009 at 1.00pm
Ongar Cricket Club Lost By 22 runs

Match report Ongar's 2009 league campaign began with a home encounter with Old Brentwoods. Ongar were in confident mood having beaten the same opposition only a
fortnight before, in the League Cup competition.

New skipper Rakesh Bagga eagerly won the toss and inserted the Old Boys in hope of repeating the same game plan again.

Returning Aussie, Blake Hall, was soon amongst the wickets trapping Old Boys opener Mia(0). It was skipper Rakesh in the action next as he clung
on to an absolute screamer at mid Off for the second week in a row to help get rid of the dangerous Hussain(41) with the score on 49. Skipper Sarwar(33) and
their South African overseas player Solari(28) moved the score along to 115 before Rakesh struck again, this time with the ball, trapping Sarwar LBW with his quicker ball. Solari soon followed bowled by the golden arm of Dan Shutts, a really strange innings indeed, occupying the crease for nearly 2 hours and taking 113 deliveries for his scratchy 28. Then the first of 2 run outs from the rocket arm of Jamie "Russ" Abbott, who certainly proved that you don't want to be taking any quick singles whilst he is patrolling the covers! The unluckiest player in the Old Boys side must be I Khan who found himself caught by Stick for the second time in 3 weeks "Hows your luck!" Blake and opening buddy Madcock returned and quickly removed the last 4 wickets for 1 run, as the Old Boys found themselves bowled our for 173 in 47.3 overs. The pick of the Ongar bowlers was once again Blake with figures of 4-39 off 18 overs, backed up by Madcock 1-30 from 8.3 ov. Rakesh 2-52 off 15 ov (there's nothing like being skipper to increase ones contribution in the game!). Golden arm Dan Shutts 1-20 from 5 overs. The least said about Ben's 1 over for 17 the better me thinks.

So, in almost carbon copy style Ongar had to chase down only a modest total of 174 to win. Things went badly from the off with opening partners Jas and Russ still getting to know each other, both finding themselves occupying the crease at the same end. Jas did appartenly try and make a turn, but having the turning circle of the QE II didn't exactly assist matters! Russ then played a poor shot and was caught for 9 off the ever dangerous Mughal, and Joe(6) was either caught slip off his leg or LBW we're not quite sure which and the Rakesh(4) was bowled by Sarwar, Ongar were looking completely reliant on Ben (44) who was then caught off Mughal and Stick (0) was adjudged LBW Mughal, Ongar were looking in seriously peril. New 'keeper Kev (7) was soon to follow and too Tall Paul all to quickly followed. Ongar were now reduced to 89-8 from only 30 overs. All seemed lost when Dan Shutts joined Blake at the crease, but the pair began to form a partnership and Ongar soon began to believe. Unfortunately Dan(20) was bowled by Hussains very first ball, which turned a mile, with 26 runs only required for victory. But disaster was to strike as once again 2 Ongar batsmen found themself occupying the same crease as Blake (37) hit the ball to Mid On and called Madcock for a single. Unfortunately Matt just stood his ground, whilst is brain tried to comprehend the events evolving in front of his eyes, and whether there was a run on or not, we will never know. So, Ongar were to lose a game by only 22 runs with 15 overs still to spare.

A day which had begun with much optimism was eventually to end with bitter disappointment. As always there were positives to be taken from the game, with the all round fielding display and good early season form from the bowlers, but all too often last season, batting was to be Ongar's achilles heel. They would have to bat better than today to ensure that there is to be no repeat of last seasons 'if onlys'.

Up next a trip to Woodford Green, a game Ongar would think would give them a chance to put today behind them, having beaten The Green both home and away in 2008.

Boundary

Old Brentwoods Batting
173 for 9
Player name Runs
I Hussain Caught  R Bagga - B Hall 41
H Mia Lbw  B Hall 0
J Solari Bowled  D Shuttleworth 28
K Sarwar Lbw  R Bagga 33
O Chowdray Run out  J Abbott 0
I Khan Caught  R Bagga 24
P Patel Run out  J Abbott 13
P Dawson Lbw  B Hall 3
A Raza Lbw  B Hall 0
A Malik Caught  D Shuttleworth - B Hall 1
A Mughall Not Out  0

Ongar Cricket Club Saturday 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Blake Hall18.083949.752.17
Rakesh Bagga15.0252226.003.47
Daniel Shuttleworth5.0020120.004.00
Matthew Adcock8.3030130.003.53
Ben Chambers1.001700.0017.00

Ongar Cricket Club Saturday 1st XI Batting
151 for 10
Player Name RunsCatchesStumpingsRun outs
Jamie Abbott Caught  9
Jas Chaggar Run out  6
Ben Chambers Caught  44
Joe Curtis Lbw  6
Rakesh Bagga Bowled  4 1
David Coles Lbw  0 1
Paul Stolworthy Lbw  1
Kevin Pike Caught  7
Daniel Shuttleworth Bowled  20 1
Blake Hall Run out  37
Matthew Adcock Not Out  3

Old Brentwoods Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
A Raza6.021600.002.67
A Mughal18.0559511.803.28
K Sarwar11.0245222.504.09
I Khan2.001700.008.50
I Hussain1.00313.003.00

  • Umpire :
  • Scorer :
    Geoff Page