RESULT - Stevenage Won by 105 runs

Stevenage 2nds are flying high and blew away 3rd placed Sawbridgeworth with an all round team display to cement their place at the top of the league. Such is the strength of the Stevenage 2nds and 3rds that the absence, because of holidays, of Russell Hann (thats right Mr Hann on holiday in the cricket season!!) and wicket-keeper Martin Nevill and the late withdrawl of Jason Parchment had no discernable impact on the performance of the 2nds. Stevenage batted first and scored what they considered to be a good, competative total of 207. Albert Sodhi (46) and Mehesh Palihakka (66) laid the foundations with a second wicket stand of 107, but most of the batsmen then chipped in, notably Simon Roberts (36), Dave Stressing (18) and Tony Start (15).

At tea the Sawbridgeworth captain suggested to Ian Brown that the Stevenage total was about 50 runs short, so while the Sawbridgeworth players ate their teas, with peaceful minds and plenty of self confidence, Browny and his team were planning on making their opponents eat their captains words.
Sawbridgeworth were always under pressure against the tight Stevenage attack, scoring only 25 by the first drinks break at 17 overs and having lost 2 early wickets. Unfortunately for them things got no better and they found themselves bowled out for 107. Ian Brown, Mahesh Palihakkarra and Paul Berry all picked up 3 wickets and as hands were shaken as the two sides left the field, Browny, with a big grin across his face mentioned to the Sawbridgeworth captain that he considered maybe Sawbridgeworth were probably about 150 runs short of a par total.

Next week is the big game when Stevenage entertain 2nd in the table Potter's Bar
MOM: Mahesh for another allround performance

RESULT - Stevenage Won by 9 wickets

Stevenage 2nds continued their winning ways. Fortunately skipper Ian Brown, with rain looming, won the toss and was able to insert the visitors on a damp pitch. Ickleford were skittled out for 82. After a good start, 41 for the first wicket, the visitors collapsed mainly due to Ian Brown and Paul Berry taking 4 wickets each. In reply Russell Hann smashed 41 runs and Gary Brown (30no) assured a very quick victory
MOM: Depending on your point of view, God, Allah, Mother Nature, Gaia, the butterfly in the Amazon, or The Met. Office

RESULT - Stevenage Won by 67 runs

Stevenage 2nds continued their winning ways against a hard working visiting team. Skipper Ian Brown won the toss and batted on an excellent wicket. All batsmen scored useful runs but it was Mehesh Palihakkara (79) and Albert Sodhi (53) that took the honours as Stevenage posted a very useful total of 236. In reply Waltham Cross faltered in the pursuit of the target. All the home bowlers bowled well but skipper Ian Brown routed the middle order with an explosive spell finishing with 6 for 13 off 12.3 overs
Mom Ian Brown

RESULT - Stevenage Won by 1 wicket

Stevenage 2nds continued their winning ways on a dodgy wicket at Totteridge. The fact that both sides got 200 runs is a mystery. Ian Brown (5 for 40) contributed most to the effort in the field and as it conspired it was Ian Brown the batsman that took Stevenage to a very tight victory. He shared a last wicket stand of 28 with Dylan Slater and ended the game with 3 successive fours, although the last one he had little to do with coming as it did in byes. Simon Roberts was the pick of the batsmen before the last pair making a superb 68, which included by all accounts a towering six. In all the victory can simply be put down to Stevenage's team spirit and will to win.
Mom Ian Brown

RESULT - Stevenage Won by 5 wickets

London Colney 102 all out in 39.4 overs lost to Stevenage 2nds 103 for 5 in 35.3 overs. Stevenage 2nds continued their dominance of the League. Stevenage bowling is very good and this week was improved further by Jason Parchment (2 wkts), rested from 1st X1 action and Paul Berry (2). Skipper Ian Brown (with 3 wickets) and Sri Lankan Memesh Palihakkarra (3 wickets) did their usual and they were to good for London Colney. This season Mehesh has 33 wickets to date and Ian Brown 31. I have a feeling this is the other way around in which case Browny will be quick to let me know.

In difficult batting conditions Russell Hann top scored with 27 and Simon Roberts 20 no and Ian Gane 20, saw the visitors home. Roberts in particular showing good technique, concentration and a thick skin, as he was subjected to considerable sledging throughout his innings following completion of a clean, but disputed, catch in the London Colney innings.
Mom Simon Roberts

RESULT - Stevenage Won by 122 runs

Stevenage 2nds 201 for 7 in 51 overs beat Hatfield Hyde 79 all out. Stevenage 2nds roared to the top of the league against struggling Hatfield Hyde. The visitors total of 201 for 7 was an excellent effort on a poor wicket. Gary Brown top scored with 53 and with Russell Hann (42) they put on an excellent opening partnership in difficult conditions of 73. Afterwhich all the batsmen chipped in, with Ian Gane scoring a hard hitting 34. Rumours abound, however, of another runout involving an opening batsmen. Details are sketchy at the moment as all enquiries are being met by a wall of silence. Hann stands on 3 runouts from 8 games before this match so hopefully for his sake it was Gary Brown for his second of the season.

The home side's batsmen had no chance against skipper Ian Browns bowling. As he made it a family double act 15.1 - 9 - 12 - 6 as he exploited the conditions perfectly.
Mom not specified

RESULT - Match Drawn

Stevenage 2nds 248 for 4 in 51 overs drew with West Herts 2nds 135 for 6 in 49 overs. The scoreline says it all, Stevenage taking 16 points to West Herts 0. But ultimately it was a day of frustration as Stevenage strive to maintain their assult on the league title and confirm their current second place slot. Andy Burroughes playing his first Saturday match of the season just showed what the Club has been missing as he turned back the clock a few years with a majestic 124. With the support of Albert Sodhi (71 no) they added exactly 200 for the 4th wicket.

West Herts never got in the hunt and although Stevenage bowlers dominated, Ian Brown made regular changes to variously, force, cadjole and buy wickets but the home side were content to bat out time without securing a point.
Mom Andy Burroughes

RESULT - Stevenage Won by 21 runs

Stevenage 2nds continue their winning ways against a good Clifton side. Mehesh Palihakkara was a super star for Stevenage. His 105 runs and 5 for 40 off 14.3 overs completely overwhelmed visitors Clifton who had inserted the home side on a good cricket wicket. Mahesh's, a former Sri Lankan under 21 international player, innings was full of exciting strokes included 17 fours and was acheived in just 28 overs, he was ably supported by Albert Sodhi (26) and Simon Roberts (34no).
But it wasn't plain sailing in defence of the 200 plus total, with the visitors getting off to a flyer, 50 coming up in 7 overs. However, Mahesh was introduced and it all changed. Supported by skipper Ian Brown, they have become a deadly duo, Mahesh's off spinners were to much for Clifton 14.3 - 3 - 40 - 5 and Stevenage 2nds had their 5th win of the season with 2.3 overs to spare.
M o m Mahesh

RESULT - Stevenage Won by 6 wickets

Stevenage 2nds had an excellent win at Boxmoor over what they considered a very good home side. Skipper Ian Brown held the key tying down the batsmen and taking 5 for 30 off 14.5 overs. Ably supported by Mahesh Palihakkara the home side couldn't escape the bowlers grip and were bowled out in 42.5 overs. In fact the only cause for concern in the first half of the game for Stevenage was the absence of the reliably reliable Dave Stressing. The Stevenage boys were getting a bit worried an hour into the game when there was still no sign of him. However, a sheepish Stressing snuck on to the pitch shortly after the first hour and naievely admitted to having gone to Broxbourne rather than Boxmoor. Surely a man of his experience could have come up with a flat tyre, road closure or alien abduction story that would have been a little less embarassing.

For Stevenage, Palihakkkara showed his true worth with a superb 50 not out and supported by Russell Hann (35), they reached their target with only four wickets down and numerous overs to spare
M o m All of the batsman, because this was the first week without a runout.

RESULT - Match Drawn

Stevenage 2nds missed out on a fourth win when they failed take the visitor's last wicket. A good allround batting performance, with the highlights being Russell Hann 60, Gary Brown 62, Mahesh Palihakkara 32 and Albert Sodhi 29. The batsmen all dominated the bowling as Stevenage declared after 50 overs on 220. This was achieved despite the obligatory run-out involving an opening batsman, although on this occasion not Russell Hann. This week's villan was apparently Gary Brown and his hapless victim Mahesh, so the Hann ratio drops to 3 from 4.

The visitors never got to grips with the chase thanks to Ian Brown 23 - 13 - 56 - 5 and Palihakkara 17 - 4 - 48 - 4. These two and good support bowling maintained total control over the game but couldn't manage to claim that last wicket, despite a few half chances.
M o m Gary Brown

RESULT - Stevenage Won by 121 runs

Another wet wicket saw Stevenage grind out 145 for 8 in 49 overs after a delayed start. Albert Sodhi, returning to Stevenage after a loan period at Knebworth Park, top scored with a solid 39.

After tea the value of Sodhi's and the other batsmens innings was exemplified. Ian Brown and former Sri Lankan Under 19 player Mahesh Palihakkara destroyed the home sides batting. Bowling them out in 13.3 overs for just 24 . Both took 5 wickets ,Brown 7 - 4 - 14 - 5 & Mehesh 6.3 - 3 - 9 - 5 and are joint M o m winners.

I'm starting a sweepstake on how many times Russell Hann will be involved in a runout in league cricket this season. He ran out Gary Brown this week, to add to the list of Dave Carr and himself, to make a grand total of 3 from 3 batting innings. Contact Carze, for details, all proceeds to be split evenly between his victims, excluding himself.

RESULT - Match Abandoned - rain

Stevenage were in charge of this game at the halfway stage when the heavens opened and the game abandoned. They had bowled North Enfield out for 97 thanks to good bowling and fielding. Ian Brown 13 - 6 - 17 - 2, Mehesh Palihakkara 15 .4 - 6 - 28 - 3, Ian Hamilton 9 - 3 - 15 - 1, Aamir Ahktar 6 - 1 - 23 - 2 and Gary Brown 4 - 0 - 9 - 1.

RESULT - Stevenage Won By 79 runs

Stevenage batted first and got off to a superb start, thanks for the second time in a row to inform opener Russell Hann. In partnership with Mohair (52), Hann (56) compiled a 100+ run opening partnership. The runs dried up with the loss of Mohair and then Hann having run out his opening partner the week before was himself a victim of a run out. (Russ you seem to be the common denominator). Despite the regular loss of wickets Stevenage still acheived a total of 200, with Gary Brown 33no and Ian Gane 28 scoring the majority of the remaining runs, and were able to declare with a couple of overs to spare, which proved crucial at the finish.

In reply Holtwhites never looked in the game, but worked hard to hang on for a draw. Tight bowling from all those used kept the pressure on and the bowlers used at the other end to Mehesh chipped in with important wickets, although the star of the bowling was Mehesh who picked up 6 wickets for 40 runs from 18 overs to take Stevenage to their second successive victory.
Stevenage M o M - Mehesh