RESULT - Presidents XI Won by 17 runs
An excellent Presidents day occured in very good weather for the most part. The highlights are summarised below.
Presidents XI - 198 all out in 44.3 overs - Rob Austin 46.
Wickets falling to part time bowlers such as David Carr (2), Graeme Duff (1, which was Rob Austin), Barry Turner (1) and Dave Thompson (1).
Good efforts with the bat from U13s, Chris Whitworth and Scott Davies (17) and Rhys Stewart.
Stevenage XI - 182 all out in 32 overs - Gary Brown 58, Graeme Duff 51
The match winning bowler for the Presidents side was 13yr old Rhys Stewart who took 3 for 27 from as many as 8 or 9 overs with his left arm spinners, although
it was occassional cricketer Dave (Pistol) Peat who took the winning wicket.
RESULT - Stevenage Lost by 39 runs
Stevenage lost their quarter final encounter having found themselves in very promising positions in both Hertford's innings and their own, only to have the initiative taken from them in the first instance and then
meekly hand it over in the second. Hertford chose to bat first and the opening spells from Paul Berry and Ian Brown were tight and resulted in the removal of both of Hertford's experienced openers. This good work was followed up by an excellent 10 overs of spin from
Ashley Bayes and usefull support from Peter Magafas, to leave Hertford seemingly a bit behind the anticipated rate, at 142 for 4 from 36 overs, on a good batting track. However, it was this point onwards that a succession of Hertford's middle order batsmen opened
their shoulders and the bowlers left at Stevenage's disposal had no answer, particularly against Chris Box, who hit 5 towering 6's to boost the Hertford total to 277-8.
Stevenage's tactics were the inverse of Hertford's as they set off at a pace of between 7 and 8 runs and over with the fielding restrictions proving a benefit to Mark Sinclair's role as pinch hitter, a job that he excelled in, making a very fast 30 odd runs. His opening partner
Gary Brown fell reasonably early but Magafas came to the crease and began what was to become a very good innings. By 15 overs Stevenage had moved to 100 for 2 from 15 overs and with sensible batting were in a position to control the game and acheive an impressive victory. However, it was from
here that their batsman slowly gave the initiative away. David Carr was the first to go for 24 from 28 balls, playing a pointless and lazy shot having got himself established and he was followed shortly by Albert Sodhi and Barry Turner, leaving Magafas to plough on virtually single handedly
until he got the required support from Martin Nevill. Nevill and Magafas took the score over the 200 mark, but the run-rate was climbing slowly and increasing pressure was brought to bear on the batsmen. Magafas was eventually dismissed for 101 with 6 overs left and just under 60 runs needed and while
Ashley Bayes and Nevill put together a useful little partnership, Stevenage were bowled out with 39 runs still required.
RESULT - Stevenage Won by 13 runs
Stevenage advanced to quarter finals of Becker Cup with a solid all round performance against a never say die Clarendon team. There was a lot to admire about Stevenages performance, with a lot
of runs scored (273 for 7) on a wicket of uneven bounce, most of Stevenage's batsmen made important contributions but an unbeaten stand of 40 for the eighth wicket in which Mark Sinclair (30n.o) savaged 4 - fours and a six, in partnership with Martin
Nevill proved decisive. Early in the innings Gary Brown anchored Stevenage's effort with a good 54, but Magafas (46), Carr (26), Turner (37), Bayes (13) and Nevill (15n.o) also played their part. Indeed Sinclair stared with the ball and was
mainly responsible for the home side being 173 for 8 and in a seemingly hopeless position. However their lower order had different ideas and it took the combined effort of the entire Stevenage team in the field to prevent a Claredon win. In fact in the
final reckoning the most significant difference in the two sides was the fielding and in particular the catching. The standard was set with the first wicket to fall as Clarendon's opening bat heaved Simon Roberts over the outfield only to see Albert Sodhi
launch himself upwards and backwards over his left shoulder to pluck the ball from the air before being inverted into a headstand on landing with the ball safely in his grasp. That catch was followed by a relatively simple catch to Peter Magafas off Sinclair's bowling, before
Sinclair profited from 2 further superb outfield catches. The first was held by Gary Brown, who the ball before had been posted out to the deep mid-wicket boundary by his Captain Barry Turner. Brown's catch was a running and juggling effort as the ball sailed towards the boundary rope
only to be intercepted by Brown a few feet in from the boudnary. The second catch was probably the most important of the innings as it removed Claredon's star batsman, Wise. Wise launched into a big lofted off drive, but got a bit too far under it and most of the power imparted by his blow
sent the ball on a too high a trajectory such that it plummeted to earth, or more precisely Martin Nevill's safe hands, just inside the rope. Three further and relatively simple catches were made, by Carr, Hamilton and Turner respectively, but with one wicket and 5 overs left Clarendon only
needed 13 runs to win. The field had been in close for a few overs before and it forced the last pair, including Clarendon's Aussie, who was on 60 runs, to take a chance. Magafas, who had stepped into the breach to bowl at the end and had mixed up his length and speed brilliantly dropped in a short ball. The Aussie
batter was late on his pull shot, but got a hefty top edge that sent the ball skying away down towards fine leg with the wicketkeeper Carr in hot pursuit. With the ball inches from the ground and safety Carr dived forward to complete the catch and bring a closely fought game to
a successfull end for Stevenage.
RESULT - Stevenage Won by 6 wickets
Stevenage advanced to 3rd round of Becker Cup with an excellent performance at Northwood.
The match was reduced to 40 overs per side due to heavy rain early in the afternoon and Northwood chose to bat on a sodden ground where it was difficult for the bowlers to keep their feet.
In the circumstances Stevenage did very well bowling Northwood out with ten balls to spare for 185. This was due to Mark Sinclair and Will Leslie taking a grip of the innings at a crucial time, Leslie finishing with 3 for 27 off his alloted 8 overs, thanks in part to the pressure
applied by Sinclair. Rajeev Rajacopal then mopped up the last four wickets with the last five wickets going for 25 runs as the home side sunk from 160 for 5 to 185 allout. Stevenage got off to an brisk start Peter Magafas (58) and David Carr (33) adding 93 for the first wicket on a pitch
that as it dried became increasingly difficult to master. When they departed it was left to Albert Sodhi (39 not out) to steer the visitors home with 9 balls to spare.
RESULT - Stevenage Lost by 134 runs
A short report for this one to mark the return visit of former player Rob Austin as skipper of the MCC side. Stevenage were unable to field a
strong side because of Becker Cup committment and the strong MCC side featuring amoung others the St Albans 1st XI wicketkeeper, former Stevenage 1st XI player Martin Olley and Roger Rapid (M.Rajabali)
from somewhere else steamrollered the Stevenage XI. Only Adil (the Dog) Zargar stood up to the MCC bowling, making 47 runs and living up to his Goochesque moustache.
(Man of the Match - Adil (Borat) Zargar
MoM - Rhys Stewart
25th July - Hertford vs STEVENAGE - Becker Cup Quarter Final
MoM - Pete Magafas
11th July - Clarendon vs STEVENAGE - Becker Cup 3rd Round
Stevenage are away in the quarter final on the 25th July to Hertford.
MoM - Mark Sinclair
20th June - Northwood vs STEVENAGE - Becker Cup 2nd Round
Stevenage are away in the 3rd round to the winners of the Clarendon/County Hall tie.
MoM - Peter Magafas
20th June - STEVENAGE vs MCC
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