RESULT - Stevenage lost by 3 wickets
on a baking hot day Stevenage lost the toss and were invited to bat first, with a mixture of luck, tenacity and the benefit of a Tuesday night practice session devoted solely to batting coaching Stevenage used all 53 overs
and made 191-8, a good score considering the strength of the opposition whose first four bowlers were of a very high standard. Neil Hockey top scored with 35 and there were contributions throughout the order, Ashlea Bennett (30), Rich Curtis (29),
Jack Mitchell (24), Ashley Daniels(19) and Conor Hayward (16 n.o.) all deserving of a mention.
Radlett V began their innings with two very good batsmen who put on over a hundred before pidgeon Jones made the breakthrough, suddenly wickets began to fall and Radletts cocksure confidence began to wain. Sadly it was just a little too late and
despite Rakesh Lad claiming 4-31 with his dibbly dobbleys, Radlett scrapped home with 7 wickets down in 44 overs, a tight finish to a game in which the 4s showed some real mettle and promised much for the rest of the season.
Man Of Match - Rakesh Lad
Lemon Of Match - not awarded
RESULT - Stevenage lost by 37 runs
Stevenage having won the toss for the first time this season elected to field on a green shag pile carpet!
Kev Jones got us of to a flyer with a wicket in the 1st over, through good honest toil in the sun Stevenage picked up wickets at regular intervals and kept the scoring to a reachable target as North Mymms got to 179 for 9
in 53 overs thanks, almost entirely to 93 n.o. from a bat mysteriously given not out to a clear stumping when on 30! The pick of the bowlers was easily Trev "the Rev" Scott-Hibbert who rediscovered the art of wicket taking and finished with 13.5.32.4. This included being on a hattrick
and claiming a first wicket with a newly developed wrong 'un which increases by 100% the number of variations in his armoury.
The Stevenage innings got of to the worst possible start when Craig Whitworth trod on his own stumps from the 1st ball. He was quickly followed by Rich Curtis also for a duck and Stevenage were in trouble. Jack Mitchell (36) and Neil Hockey (19) then steadied the ship but once they
where dismissed the middle order fell away leaving only a never say die attitude from the tail of K.Rowland (14), A.Daniels (14) and S.Wood (18) to give us a chance. Unfortunately it was too late and thanks to some unusual bowling (which include a 10 or 11 ball over thanks to
a bout of the yips) from a geezer taller and skinnier then Peter Crouch, Stevenage were all out in the 37th over for 143, our first deafeat!
Man Of Match - Trevor Scott-Hibbert -
Lemon Of Match - Phil Ashby for dropping a sitter-
RESULT - Match Abandoned rain
il pleut.
Man Of Match -
Lemon Of Match -
RESULT - Match Abandoned as a draw
On a good day for waterfowl only, Watton won the toss & batted first. Stevenage had them in trouble from the off and but for 6 dropped catches would have dismissed Watton for under 100 as it was they still struggled against a tight bowling
attack before finally being dissmissed for 149 in 51 overs, star man with the ball was Simon Wood with 12.4/2/30/5 supported by Phil Ashby 11/5/18/2. By the time Stevenage started to bat the weather had got far worse and made
batting conditions on a quagmire a nightmare, by the time a monsoon had finally convinced the Watton skipper enough was enough Stevenage were 41-3 from 25 overs, firmly beaten by the wonderful weather!
Man Of Match - Simon Wood - first five wicket haul for Stevenage
Lemon Of Match - Phil Ashby - for failure to nominate anyone
RESULT - STEVENAGE WON by 54 runs
The fact that Stevenage were only able to field 10 men due to a no show from Sudesh Bellend ed skipper Phil Ashby's hopes of a relaxed start to the new season. Stevenage then went on to lose the toss and were put in on a greenish wicket under grey skies, it was looking ominous!
Then something special happened, an opening stand of 57 in 12 overs set the tone and a determined Stevenage side raced to 218 all out in 45 overs, thanks to an incredible innings of 136 from Jack Mitchell; his maiden century; who blasted the ball to every part of the ground before a tired shot
finally led to his dismissal. Mitchell's innings set Stevenage's bowlers up with a great chance of victory and the bowlers responded well. With only 3 regular bowlers Stevenage expected a lot from Kev Jones and Ashby and they didn't disappoint with the opposition reeling at 24-4 before two
big stands bought the MET back into it dragging the score up to 153-6. The key breakthrough coming thanks to Neil Hockey combining with Steveage's talented U15 wicket-keeper, Conor Haywood, who completed a great stumping from a wide. With the threat of bad light looming and risk of rain imminent Stevenage
responded well rain by mopping up the last 4 wickets for 10 runs to win. The pick of the bowlers was Ashby 21.2.46.4 well supported by Jones 10.0.41.2 and Simon Wood 8.1.33.2.
Man Of Match - Jack Mitchell
Lemon Of Match - Sudesh
STEVENAGE IVs vs North Mymms IVs
STEVENAGE IVs vs St Margaretsbury IV
STEVENAGE IVs vs Watton At Stone
MET Police Bushy IIIs vs STEVENAGE IVs
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