Chesham CC start league season strongly!

3 wins out of 4 in the league, the non-win being a draw, a great start to the year, but the 1st XI certainly caused a few heart attacks from the spectators!

Chesham 1st XI vs. Burnham 2nd XI (Thames Valley League Division 2B)

Burnham 111 all out (24.3 overs)

Chesham 112-8 (25.5 overs)

Chesham’s 1st XI began their 2011league season with a nervous win against Burnham. Burnham won the toss and decided to bat first on what looked like a very good pitch. Chesham, however, soon hit their stride with Peter Ongondo taking a wicket with only the 3rd ball of the game with an unplayable short ball. Ongondo and his opening partner Tom Helm began to pass the outside edge with regularity and it didn’t take long before wickets began to fall regularly. When they finished their opening spells, Burnham had been reduced to 40-4 with Ongondo taking 3 wickets and Tom Helm taking 1 courtesy of an excellent diving slip catch from Jason Rance. 1st Team debutant Jack Maciver was then brought into the attack and bowled in tandem with off Spinner Matt Rance. Maciver found significant swing straight away and took his first wicket in his first over with an excellent inswinging Yorker. Wickets continued to fall regularly and Burnham were soon bowled out for 111 in just 24.3 overs. Rance finished with 2 wickets and Maciver finished with 4, an excellent performance on his debut. Chesham were impressive with the ball and were excellent in the field taking 7 catches including 3 in the slips.

In reply, Chesham found it tough from the start and, in overseas player Waqar Ahmed, Burnham had a bowler who would ensure Chesham wouldn’t find it easy to chase down Burnham’s modest total. Chesham, like Burnham, lost wickets regularly with only Alex Morgan showing any resistance by scoring 26. Matt Rance, Jason Rance, Tom Helm and captain Ollie Turner all fell to the impressive Ahmed and when Jack Maciver was out LBW becoming Ahmed’s 6th wicket, Chesham needed the calmness of Aftab Habib to see them past Burnham’s total with only two wickets in hand. In the end it was an excellent win for Chesham, but their batsman were for the most part left disappointed by the way they struggled to chase down the small target.

 

Chesham 2nd XI vs. Farnham Common 1st XI (Thames Valley League Division 4A)

Farnham Common 143 all out (47 overs) Mike Scott 3-25

Chesham 147-3 (33.1 overs) Garry Emery 56

Chesham’s 2nd XI got off to a winning start as they cruised past Farnham Common, winning by 7 wickets. After being asked to field first, Chesham’s accurate bowling, led by Mike Scott, took control of the game, restricting their hosts to a hugely sub-par score as there was no let up in the bowling effort, with all bowlers providing control and regular wickets.

Chesham never seemed in any trouble in reply as Garry Emery hit a superb 56, aided by captain Mo Asuaf (35), before the job was finished with a duet of quickfire cameo innings from Henry White (25*) and Ed Wainwright (11*), rounding off a fine days work and a great start to the season.

 

Chesham 3rd XI vs. Farnham Royal 3rd XI (Thames Valley League Division 6A)

Farnham Royal 123 all out (39 overs) Chris Royals 5-22

Chesham 125-2 (32.1 overs) Matt Yeabsley 50*

Chesham 3rd XI's league campaign got off to a great start with a comprehensive victory over newly promoted Farnham Royal. Tanvir Butt started the league season by dismissing the Royal opener of the first ball of the match, but Farnham Royal recovered well to reach 90-3 at the drinks break. However, the introduction of spin in the shape of Chris Royals changed the game as he decimated the opposition’s batting line-up, with figures of 10 overs, 4 maidens, 5-22 as Farnham Royal were rolled over for 123.

In reply, Chesham gave their newly promoted opponents a taste of the higher level of cricket as Matt Yeabsley scored a fine unbeaten 50, ably assisted by Matt Watson (23*) and Tanvir Butt (22) as Chesham romped home by 8 wickets.

 

Chesham 4th XI vs. Slough 5th XI (Thames Valley League Division 8B)

Slough 193 all out (48.3 overs) Ben Marote 3-53

Chesham  158-8 (51 overs)

A draw against old foes Slough 5ths started the 4th XI’s league campaign. A solid bowling performance, led by Ben Marote, held Slough to 198 on a small ground, but the batting line-up failed to register a score higher than Craig Suckling’s 23, forcing Chesham to shut up shop and bat for the draw.

 

Chesham Sunday 2nd XI vs. Boxmoor Sunday 1st XI

Chesham 241-5 (40 overs)

Boxmoor 196 all out (36 overs)

A fine performance from the Sunday 2s, led with the bat by Matt Watson, who was unfortunately run out close to  a well deserved 100, complimented by a stoic 73 from Mark Hughes-D'aeth got Chesham to a large 241 of their 40 overs. In reply, Boxmoor never really got momentum as wickets fell regularly to Guy Fowler, Chris Royals and Ed Turner, ensuring that they were bowled out well short of their target.