Shenley secure league and cup victories

SHL Division Two

Shenley Village 284-5dec

County Hall 178

Shenley Village won by 105 runs

SHENLEY Village turned up the heat as they posted two convincing wins at the weekend in hot and humid conditions.

On Saturday they travelled to Hertford for a Division Two fixture at County Hall. Having lost the toss and been sent in to bat on a pitch still drying out after heavy overnight rain, opener Tharic Sameem made his intentions clear from the start, as the first ball he faced was launched for 6. Fellow opener Anooj Vadgama was caught at square leg for 13 in the fifth over with the score on 20 which brought Shenley captain Dion Ebrahim to the crease. The pair then took command, putting on 139 for the second wicket.

Sameem hit 10 4s and four 6s in a tremendous knock. The big-hitting Sri Lankan was dropped twice - once when just short of his century. He went on to make his 100 in just 60 balls but eventually it was third time unlucky as he was caught for 111. Matt Evans, batting at four, then made a very useful 46, before falling to spinner Simon Hibbert as he was caught at long-on. Meanwhile, Ebrahim continued his assured innings, reaching his century after nearly two-and-a-half hours. With his second 100 on consecutive Saturdays safely under his belt, Ebrahim declared at 284-5. Hibbert was the most successful of the bowlers, with figures of 3-72.

After tea, the visitors again made an immediate impact with Shenley’s Craig Rawlings bowling County Hall opener Hayne Langton for a duck with his second ball. Further trouble soon followed as Dave Shelley had Adrian Devine caught behind, also for a duck, to leave the score at 14-2 after four overs. John Schlaefer and Andrew Szemiako began to dig in and attempt to repair the damage; Szemiako in particular looking dangerous as he too launched several huge sixes and began to push the score along quickly. His was a key wicket; bowled by Shelley for 46 to leave the scoreboard reading 77-3 at the 14-over mark. Shenley continued to apply the pressure and Tommy Barnaby was also dismissed a few balls later, caught at gully by the in-form Sameem for a duck.

Schlaefer’s resistance came to an end as the fifth wicket fell to off-spinner Ebrahim, who had him stumped by keeper Evans. Chris Graves, batting at seven, remained at the crease for an hour for his 39, before Shelley struck again. From this point, with such a huge total to chase, a County Hall win never looked likely and all they could do was try to hold on for a draw. But the Shenley bowlers were victorious, sweeping up the tail to dismiss County Hall for a total of 179 and winning the game by 105 runs. Shelley was the pick of the bowlers with 5-40, while Man of the Match Sameem took 2-35, Rawlings 2-39 and Ebrahim 1-30.

On Sunday, Shenley made the trip to Broxbourne for their second round tie in the Hertfordshire County Cup. In sweltering temperatures, there was a feeling of d�j� vu, as once again Shenley lost the toss and were asked to bat first. Once again, Dion Ebrahim (127) and Tharic Sameem (85) got off to a sensational start, taking 119 from the 15 overs of fielding restrictions to put their side on course for a well-deserved victory. Sameem was eventually dismissed in the 16th over after an innings of 85 from just 52 balls. Despite the loss of regular wickets thereafter, Laurie Willingham, Singh and Rawlings batted well enough to allow Ebrahim to reach his hundred and then hit some explosive shots at the end of the innings before being caught from the penultimate delivery; leaving a total of 292-8. Spinners Glassberg and Harvey were the best of the bowlers with three wickets apiece.

After tea, Shenley’s Shelley was once again on form, taking four wickets as he bowled his allotted 10 overs unchanged at the start of the run chase. This left the eventual result in little doubt, although the end was delayed by some defiant batting from Hislop (56*), Moffett (run out for 50) and White (run out for 27). Broxbourne were finally bowled out in the 48th over for 229 and Shenley won the game by 63 runs. Shelley ended with figures of 4-49 and Ebrahim 3-31; while Rawlings picked up 1-29.

This cup success means Shenley progress to the quarter-finals, where they will face an exciting challenge - drawn away to HCPL Div 2 East side North Mymms.