Easy win (and comic run out) at Northwood
Northwood 115 all out (Talwar 3-15, Hatt 3-7)
Jesters 116-4 (Mohammed 53, Chak 39)
Jesters won by 6 wkts
Phil Berman looks delighted with the green tinge
The highlight of our comfortable victory at Northwood was the controversial run out of DJ Chak - retrospective DRS footage has been acquired and analysed by our panel of third umpires and can be found in Nick Mumby's match report below...
After three cancelled games on the trot and two days of rain leading up to the fixture, it was a relief to turn up at Northwood CC and find a dry pitch and a well-kept outfield. We agreed on a timed game with 20-overs from 6:15pm and use of only one new ball. The Jesters won the toss and elected to field - a decision based equally on having use of the new ball and not having the faintest clue what a good total would be!
New boy Jack Kelleher opened the bowling with seasoned Jester Phil Berman. The bowlers offered different challenges for the Northwood openers, with Jack generating really good pace down the hill and Phil getting the ball to swing both ways and move off the pitch. Jack was unlucky not to pick up a couple of wickets, but the ball never quite went to hand as it flew over, round and through the slips! Neither had any reward and the first 10 overs went by with 49 scored. Finally, Phil Berman managed to pin one opener on the crease and a good appeal was eventually affirmed.
The introduction of the skipper did for the other opener and whilst Nick Mumby tied down one end, our second debutant, Karan Talwar, started to work his way through the middle order. The run rate fell sharply and 49 without loss became 84 for 4 at drinks. The lower middle order never really got going and wickets fell frequently, with 3 for Karan, 2 for Andy Mortimer and 3 for our third debutant, Sam Hatt.
The innings was brought to a close with a super catch from Jake Smyth fielding at short mid-wicket from Andy Mortimer's bowling. Some miserly bowling from the spinners (Mumby 9-5-1-5 and Hatt 5-2-3-7) had restricted Northwood to 115 all out. The bowling services of DJ, Jake Smyth and Adnan were not required.
An excellent tea ensued, apparently as a result of the cancelled 1st XI game from Saturday we were treated to the "superior" tea. I am told that the prawn and cream cheese sandwiches were to die for.
Openers Robbie Hudson and Adnan Mohammed strolled to the crease to be greeted with some slow left arm spin to start. This clearly surprised Robbie who was expecting a bit more pace and chipped one tamely to mid-on for an early shower.
DJ came out to join Adnan. Both found their stride quickly, running hard between the wickets (for the first run at least) and picking up boundaries at will. Adnan went to a fluent 50 from 37 balls and it looked like the game was going to be over in record time. The pair had put on 92 for the second wicket when, having cantered through numerous singles, 7 twos and 2 unlikely threes, the almost telepathic communication between the pair finally failed: they both found themselves standing at the striker's end … the bails were removed and Adnan started to wander off. After some discussion it was then decided that it wasn't Adnan, but DJ who should be out. Fortunately, the club records all of their games and if you want to see the sorry debacle, the full video analysis follows...
Adnan sadly departed soon after - bowled by a deceptively straight delivery - and was joined in the pavilion by Jake Smyth who skied one back to the bowler. From 94-2 to 103-4 the Jesters surely couldn't lose it from here?! Fortunately, debutants Kelleher and Hatt managed to steady the ship (albeit not without a little luck!) and the winning runs were struck in the 20th over.
An incredibly enjoyable game. Thanks to Northwood for their hospitality - it was great to be back after a number of years off the fixture card.
Jesters X: Mumby (c), Hudson (wk), Mohammed, Chak, Smyth, Kelleher, Hatt, Karan, Mortimer, Berman