Gidea Park & Romford CC Saturday 4th X1 v WANSTEAD on Sat 03 Jun 2006 at 1.30pm
Match was Drawn
At last the sun shone but the legacy of the poor weather recently (and a pitch which had been used previously this season) left very slow conditions. As a result of injuries and late team changes in the higher XIs the Park side for this match was a mix of very inexperienced colts and older players. Wanstead are the form team of the 4th XI Premier division and they won the toss and elected to bat first. The youg openers Velani and Singh raced ahead at six runs an over from the start of the innings and were aided by two early missed chances. With the bowlers inconsistent in their line and length there was no let up and all were treated with the same disregard by the batsmen. The opening stand was well into three figures when a stunning diving catch by debutant James Libby off a full blooded drive by Singh (62) made a breakthrough, soon to be followed by a second wicket. Velani made untroubled progress though and completed a very good century before holing out off the perspiring Park captain Anil Patel for 107. Thereafter younsters Burgess and Baldwin (34 not out and 48 not out) accelerated the runs and the innings closed off 43 overs on 301 for 4 leaving Park an hour and fifty minutes and 20 overs to chase.
This was a huge total even assuming Wanstead would bowl back 55 to 60 overs (in the event they bowled 55) and their young attack proved equally as good as their young batsmen, bowling with pace and accuracy, in paticular the impressive Baldwin. The Chagggar brothers put on 30 before Jas was yorked for 9 and then two wickets fell at 57 to leave Park precariously placed at 57 for 3. Sat Chaggar was batting very well and in a very composed manner however and he now found a great ally in skipper Patel as they safely negotiated the next 75 minutes and took the score to 129 before Anil left for a stalwart 21. Sat completed a debut 50 and was out shortly before the close for an invaluable 82. Wanstead tried seven bowlers to break through but despite a wobble right at the death when three wickets fell on 187, the draw was obtained as David Brett played out the last four balls. The result was a fine achievement for the 4ths given the relative strengths of the two teams.
Next week it is Hutton away at the Polo Field. Let's hope for more fine weather!
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Gidea Park & Romford CC Saturday 4th X1 Batting
188 for 8
WANSTEAD Bowling
WANSTEAD Batting
301 for 4
Gidea Park & Romford CC Saturday 4th X1 Bowling