SOUTH WOODFORD v Gidea Park & Romford CC Saturday 4th X1 on Sat 01 Sep 2007 at 12.30PM
Gidea Park & Romford CC Won 6 wickets
Park won an important toss on a Highfield Road pitch that played slow and low with the odd varation in bounce. Mike O'Neil made good use of the breeze to remove the two openers, one caught at mid off and the other bowled, and leave the home side 24 for 2. However, number three Khalid Hussain batted stylishly and his third wicket partner, skipper Dave Walcott, played doggedly and they added 70 so that at the half way stage the score was looking healthy at 95 for 2. The introduction of Dave Cobill's spin, taking the pace off the ball, had started to peg things back for Park but it was a stunning catch by his ankles at square leg by Harvir Jutla off a full blooded sweep by Walcott (23) that turned the game. Ammar Zahid induced Hussain to pull to square leg for a well played 46 and in the same over bowled the number six, and 107 for 5 meant Park were well in the game. Cobill added another caught in the covers, and after Zahid completed an excellent spell of 7 overs 2 for 17, Harvir Jutla was immediately on the mark and very quickly had a bowled and a caught to leave the innings in tatters at 137 for 9. The number ten chanced his arm with three fours but a well judged catch at mid on by Mike O'Neil off Jutla saw the innings end at 151 off 48 overs, his figures being an impressive 3 for 17 off 6 overs. This was a great all round display by Park with good and persistent bowling backed by tidy fielding and catching.
Park were left with the likelihood of a maximum 55 overs to get the runs. South woodford know their own pitch however and after Jas Chaggar and Ammar Zahid raced away with 43 off 9 overs they proceeded to bowl straight and take the pace off the ball, with good spells from colts Overton (off spin) and Wong leg spin. By now the ball was keeping lower, but Zahid was caught for 22 off one that popped and Suki Jutla was LBW to one that kept low to put Park 64 for 2. 25 were added for the next wicket but Baljit Jutla joined Chaggar and they made steady if unspectacular progress against the accurate attack, by now reinforced with Hussian bowling an accurate and economical spell of medium pace, taking the singles and playing straight and bringing the taget closer and closer. Chaggar was LBW to one that crept for an excellent 43 and with 25 wanted, but an assured innings from colt Sam Davis (which supported his diligent display in the field earlier), and an assertive finish by Jutla with three quick fours to bring up his own 50, took Park over the line with seven overs to spare. Jutla finished with 50 not out and Davis 10 not out.
This was a hard fought game on an awkward pitch and played in good spirit. The win means that on the final league Saturday next week any two of Park, Hornchurch or Chelmsford can win promotion, the latter two meeting in the crunch game at Hornchurch and Park visiting Walthamstow. Whatever happens it has been an enjoyable season!
Gidea Park & Romford CC Saturday 4th X1 Batting
155 for 4
SOUTH WOODFORD Bowling
SOUTH WOODFORD Batting
151 for 10
Gidea Park & Romford CC Saturday 4th X1 Bowling