Scorecard

Three Caps v Takeley Cricket Club Saturday Second XI on Sat 30 Apr 2011 at 1:30 pm
Takeley Cricket Club Lost By Loads

Match report Following a long winter of intelligence gathering, and receiving a a tip-off in the H&E 2011 League Handbook, Takeley CCs "2 Tiger" Squadron made use of the full 4-day weekend to make the long trip to our nation's capital city to make their opening raid of covert operations in Div 6 of the local village league.

The crack platoon of hand selected, hardened battle veterans ("The best of the best of the best") flew in close formation, at "below radar" altitude in four Apache stealth helicopters. Dropping from ropes into the heavily fortified Fords Sports Compound all ten troops, plus supplies and ammunition, looked to force their way through to their first objective - occupation and defence of changing room seven on the west wing of the complex.

Expected engagement with opposition forces soon took place, with close hand to hand combat leading to some of the fiercest handshaking and back patting between two familiar forces. However, within minutes, "2 Squadron" had located room 7, rushed in and battoned down the hatches. Casualties were light at this point with Deep Heat and poor humour keeping morale in tact.

Having secured room 7, the chaps moved to phase 2 - Squadron Leader would leave the relative sanctuary of changing room 7 and discuss battle terms. The minutes passed slowly as the remaining 9 considered what fate would await them. Tense, nervous but confident, the warriors sweated it out in room 7. Squadron Leader would not let his men down - would he? He would. "Its not the best of news chaps", the seasoned veteran of understatement announced. "We're fielding".

The dank and airless atmosphere of room 7 remained glum as the realisation of what faced each warrior over the next 3 hours gradually sank in. Looking down at pictures of loved ones they may never see again, "2 Squadron" burst out on to the battle field, in a scene strangeley reminscent of the last one in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". The Three Caps Elite Guard showed them no mercy and ripped all that "2 Squadron" could throw at them (surely bowl? Ed) to shreds - knocking the will to live from each and every "2 Tiger". Only sporadic return fire took place, with young Private Pickering claiming 3 kills - but at what cost?

Beaten, exhausted and counting the wounded, "2 Squadron" could take no more and after 3 hours 22 minutes of desperate defence and continual retreat, Squadron Leader held up the white flag and led the troops back to the compound to discuss surrender terms. The fultility of war had never been so apparent - why couldn't the top brass just get around the table and prevent such carnage.

Not being in a position of much strength, Squadron Leader could only negotiate what appeared to be the only acceptable terms to the forces of both sides - get the batting humilation of "2 Squadron" over quickly so all could see Spurs' get beaten on Sky. Common ground had been found and Linesmen ensured a happy ending for all.


In all seriousness - well done Three Caps, and particually Minesh Patel with his magnificent 153 n.o. Hospitality and spirit was, as always, in abundance from these fine cricketers.

Low point(s) of the day - Minesh Patel's shot for "8" as it whizzed past our boundary, and past the far boundary of the pitch next door; Lloydo - after having fielded at deep backward square all day, on our pitch and on the pitch for the game next door - but only getting one tea for his efforts!

High Point(s) - A mid innings stand of many between "Audi" Kev and Mat Fletcher (Nickname required...anyone? Spurs fan if that helps) where the ball received an even bigger bruising than the injury to Malcolm's forearm; the team amassing at least 57 runs and thus not losing by 300!

Semper Fi & He Who Dares.


Three Caps Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 7 wickets
0
356 (0.0 overs)		     
Bhatt lbw  M.Sammons 47
M.Shah b  Lloyd 2
H. Sudra ct  Pickering 34
M.Patel Not Out  153
H.Desai b  M.Brown 40
Hasan ct  R.Harrington 10
Amit ct  Pickering 20
J.Vaja ct  Pickering 1
Deepak Not Out  0
Kohil  
S.Vishnu  

Takeley Cricket Club Saturday Second XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Simon Lloyd9.0066166.007.33
Andrew Osborne10.005900.005.90
Jack Pickering8.0064321.338.00
Michael Sammons5.0047147.009.40
Mat Fletcher3.002800.009.33
Rob Harrington7.0052152.007.43
Malcolm Brown3.0028128.009.33

Takeley Cricket Club Saturday Second XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
79		        
Michael Sammons Bowled  8
Andrew Osborne Bowled  0 1
Jack Pickering Caught  1
Rob Harrington Bowled  13 1
Dave Gunn Lbw  0
Ashley Harrington Bowled  0 1
Kevin Harvey Caught  20
Mat Fletcher Bowled  19
Simon Lloyd Not Out  5 1
Malcolm Brown Caught  1
A.N. Other  

Three Caps Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Hasan0.001434.670.00
Deepak0.001635.330.00
J. Vaja0.0026126.000.00
Vishnu0.0015115.000.00
Kohil0.00200.000.00