HSMCC v Burgh Heath

Holmbury St Mary 229, Burgh Heath 105.

At a warm and sunny Tattenham Way Rec the hosts, Burgh Heath, won the toss and surprisingly, given the conditions, invited their top of the table visitors to have a bat.  Menzies (46) and Jason Russell (31) then put together another solid opening stand for Holmbury of 69 in the first 13 overs, which given the indifferent bounce the hosts very decent bowlers were finding, made it even more important. Following the fall of a second wicket in the 14th over Mat Evans came to the crease and immediately began to look dangerous. Once the very tricky Naveed, who was getting huge turn, completed his 8 overs, Evans really went to town, striking 10 fours and 6 sixes in his match-turning innings of 98 before finally being caught on the long on boundary with the score at 209-6. No one else was able to find any fluency on the bowler friendly track and Holmbury were bowled out for the first time this year, for 229 in the final over.

The hosts innings started off in unusual circumstances when Seb Tallis produced two head high no balls and was immediately warned and then removed from the attack by the hosts Chairman, who was the standing umpire. This left Holmbury with only 5 bowlers for the remainder of the innings, but they all rose to the task. A superb opening spell of 7 overs 1 for 14 from Monu Sharma set the tone, as despite some early big shots, the hosts were never able to keep up with the required rate. The equally impressive Geoff Finch produced an exhibition of slow left arm taking 3 for 31 from his 8 overs. With the pitch continuing to produce sharp bounce from a full length the visitors total was looking a very challenging score.

With the game meandering along and the hosts at 100-5 enter C Colvile...following an indifferent first over he gradually found his range and finished the game with an astonishing 4 wickets in 4 balls in his fourth over, two bowled, one caught (at silly mid off) and a very grumpy Burgh Heath Chairman trapped plumb in front, meant the game ended with the hosts dismissed for 105 in the 28th over. Another huge victory, this time by 124 runs! 

Next week we are at home to third-placed Salfords. Our game against them earlier this year was cancelled because of rain, so it will be good to play them and we will want a strong team.