Five match winning sequence ended by Old Cholmeleians II

SHL Division Six

Flamstead 190

Old Cholmeleians II 191-5

Old Cholmeleians won by five wickets

FLAMSTEAD’S five match winning run came to an end on Saturday when they lost at home to Old Cholmeleians II by five wickets.

Skipper, Andy Taylor won the toss and as usual when playing at home decided to bat first. Flamstead got off to a steady start with an opening stand of 39 between Taylor and David Oswin off 10.3 overs.

Taylor (16) was the first to fall, bowled by Gibberd, but then an excellent partnership of 64 between the in-form Gordon Banks and Oswin put Flamstead in an ideal position for a large total.

With the score on 103 after 25 overs Banks (29) was also bowled by Gibberd and this started a procession of wickets as the Flamstead middle order collapsed.

Thirteen runs later Oswin was bowled by Iqbal for 68 and with Matt Brown caught behind next ball Flamstead were struggling on 116-4. With none of the middle order able to build an innings the next five wickets fell for just 35 runs leaving Flamstead on 151-9 in the 46th over.

The last pair of Twiggy Rogers (12*) and 17-year-old Jack Smith (23) then showed their team mates how to build a partnership and with some good running between the wickets and they got the score up to 190 before Smith was caught in the final over.

With a fast outfield Flamstead had to get amongst the wickets early and they soon had their first wicket when Rogers trapped Gilbert lbw for a duck with only two on the board.

This brought Lim to the crease to join his fellow debutant Australian, Tipping and they then started to build a partnership. Unfortunately for Flamstead Tipping was dropped at slip off the bowling of Josh Rose by chairman, Tim Wilkinson, with the score on 58. After this reprieve the two Australians went on to produce a match winning partnership of 130.

Skipper, Andy Taylor rang the bowling changes and eventually part time bowler, Gordon Banks, got the breakthrough bowling Lim for 47 and then removing the impressive Tipping (83) caught behind by ‘keeper Oswin.

With only 39 now needed for victory Old Cholmeleians reached their target comfortably despite the late loss of two more wickets taken by another part time bowler, Robert Gibson.

Skipper, Andy Taylor, was upset that the winning sequence of five wins had ended. “We didn’t really perform very well today and didn’t deserve to win,” he said.

“Our batting in the middle order was poor and our bowlers didn’t bowl straight enough and bowled too many four balls. Hopefully we can get back to winning ways next week when we visit Potters Bar III who are second from bottom.”