Harpenden Dolphins C.C.

Scorecard

Parkfield & Headstone II v Harpenden Dolphins C.C. on Sat 08 May 2010 at 1.00pm
Harpenden Dolphins C.C. Won by 22 runs

Match report The opening league away match of 2010 saw Harpenden Dolphins pitted against Parkfield and Headstone. Having lost the toss beneath leaden clouds, the Dolphins openers stepped out into the gloom to face the opening Parkfield attack, looking to the skies not for inspiration but instead for justification to return to the pavilion. The signs were ominous from ball one, whence opener Ant Rayner took evasive action to avoid being struck by an introductory beamer, courtesy of the Parkfield opening bowler losing his footing in the mud. Going was tough, and despite some early promise from young Rayner, he soon chopped a mistimed pull onto his sticks, leaving the Dolphins 8 for 1. He was soon followed by opener James, inside edging to the wicket keeper, and shortly after that by Duncan Lewis, caught at mid on after a confident start. With the score 15 for 3, skipper Roche and last weeks hero Paul Bonney began to knuckle down, playing patiently until the opening bowlers were replaced. Runs were never easy to come by, and as the rain began to pelt down the afternoon seemed doomed, with the outlook growing ever bleak when Roche edged to fly slip and Mathur was bowled by the accurate Taggar from the top end. Paul Bonney showed remarkable patience, resisting several tempting hand grenades from Shah, who was settling back to life in the Parkfield seconds following a season up with the firsts. Wickets tumbled in cahoots with the rain, and as the outfield grew ever more sodden even the hitting power of Gregory seemed somewhat muted, as the Dolphins quite literally slipped to sixty odd for seven. When Bonney was finally dismissed for a valiant sixteen, his guard having slipped to an inch outside off stump in the quagmire, Neil Bolt joined Chris Lang at the crease, where the two proceeded with the utmost caution. Both steely in defence they used up several precious overs until a rush of blood sent Bolt back to the pavilion, his stumps desecrated in clear tribute to the mangled remains of the Parkfield wicket. Stuck at 76 for nine, the loquacious Downes strode to the wicket, opening his account with a fine flick off the legs before striding back, stumps akimbo, leaving Lang stranded at the other end.

A merry tea followed, during which the impossibly slow Parkfield over rate was discussed in tandem with the beauty of a wet and windy day in May. Oh for ten points, match abandoned chirped the deflated Dolphins, before taking to the field in a league record team total of seventy three jumpers. Once Parkfield finally emerged, the new ball was thrown first to Gregory and then to pace veteran Holden, with the Dolphins eager to prove that two teams could take wickets in a wet field with low visibility. Requiring 79 to win, the opening break through came soon enough when Ant Rayner managed a close catch to give Ian Holden his first wicket, with the second following almost immediately when Holden struck again, this time James behind the stumps on catching duty. Buoyed by the early breakthroughs, a renewed energy entered the Dolphins side, and as the sun broke through the cloud for the first time that afternoon a sensational run out courtesy of Paul Bonney left Parkfield reeling at 11 for 3. Tail up, Holden plugged away outside of off stump, bagging a third wicket as James took a smart diving catch in front of the vacant first slip. This brought the menacing figure of the Parkfield opening bowler Edwards to the crease, and with a few whirls of the bat he quickly became the innings top scorer, threatening to take the game well out of the Dolphins’ sights. Still, Gregory and Holden continued to work away, supported by an almost impenetrable ring of cold yet keen fielders, supporting each other and the bowlers amiably. Before long Holden struck again, this time bowling the Parkfield number six, leaving the home side poised on thirty odd for five. A Paul Bonney catch at mid wicket gave Gregory a deserved first wicket, and when Edwards edged into the gloves of James to give Holden a well deserved fifth wicket Parkfield looked in real trouble, seven down and still thirty runs adrift. Keen to produce a result, the Parkfield skipper came out and carved a large four, prompting a smart change of field which paid dividends almost immediately, with Paul Bonney holding his nerve on the boundary to bag an excellent catch in the deep, giving Holden his sixth and Dolphins their eighth wicket. A few dark clouds gathering on the horizon put a spring in the Dolphins step, but there was no need for great haste. With twenty odd runs still to play with Gregory doubled his tally, before Holden completed the spectacular rout, picking up his seventh wicket courtesy of a fourth catch behind. Dolphins won by a comfortable 22 runs, Holden returning stunning figures of 7-27.

Harpenden Dolphins C.C. 1st XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
78		        
Ant Rayner b Edwards 4 1
Roland James ct Edwards 3 4
Duncan Lewis ct Sodha 6
Tom Roche ct Shah 6
Paul Bonney b Taggar 16 2 1
Amit Mathur b Taggar 5
Andy Gregory b Taggar 8
Ian Holden b Taggar 6
Chris Lang Not Out  4
Neil Bolt b Wamapala 3
Graham Downes b Taggar 2

Parkfield & Headstone II Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Sodha8.0014114.001.75
Edwards9.031125.501.22
Taggar13.432354.601.68
Shah6.0015115.002.50
Wamapala5.01515.001.00

Parkfield & Headstone II Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
56 (0.0 overs)		     
Dipak ct (Rayner) Holden 4
Vinay run out (Bonney) 2
Wamapala ct (James) Holden 0
Edwards ct (James) Holden 31
Lloyd ct (James) Holden 0
Boxer b Holden 5
Ralinson ct (Bonney) Gregory 2
Sodha ct (Bonney) Holden 4
Dix b Gregory 1
Nim Not Out  1
Mistry ct (James) Holden 0

Harpenden Dolphins C.C. 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Andy Gregory12.0128214.002.33
Ian Holden11.222773.862.38