Bessborough Cricket Club News story


Borough Big Guns down Crouch End

30 Jul 2012

BOROUGH BIG GUNS DOWN CROUCH END
By James Wheeler
Big performances from captain Danny Hawes (pictured) and star all-rounder Ian Barrie saw our First Eleven grab a vital win over Crouch End by 36 runs on Saturday. Hawes scored a crucial 65 as we were bowled out for 149 in their innings, but a superb spell of 6-46 from Barrie gave the Borough the 10 points.

Hawes lost the toss and we were put into bat on Crouch End’s beautiful but postage stamp sized ground in North London. Star batsman Ramesh Gunalan’s car broke down on route, so Hawes opening partner was 18-year old Tharshan Kanagaraj who has been in exceptional form this season.  Both batsman started cautiously, playing carefully against Crouch End’s opening bowlers Karrar and Smart.

Hawes started to find his form with some elegant shots off the front foot and some booming cuts off the back foot. Kanagaraj struggled to get himself going but managed to hang round for 10 overs before falling LBW to Karrar for 7.

Numbers 3 and 4, Ian Barrie and Sanil Shah both offered support to Hawes with both being dismissed for 12. Wicket-keeper Wayne Whitson who has struggled for form this season joined Hawes and opening his account with a booming drive off slow left arm spinner Karrar first ball.

Hawes and Whitson started to build an steady partnership with Hawes bringing up his second 50 of the season. With it looking fairly easy, a mix up between the pair resulted in Whitson being run out. 

Disaster then struck when Hawes was clean bowled by Goswami for 65 in the same over. The new pair Akshay Hirani and Neal Patel were both dismissed for one run between them a couple of overs later, the Borough had slumped to 110-7. Their was still no sign of car breakdown victim Ramesh Gunalan when James Wheeler joined Mitesh Vyas at the crease. With overs running out, Wheeler decided to take the attack to the Crouch End attack scoring a run a ball 25 which included 2 fours and the only six of the day off Karrar. Wheeler, Vyas and Rajan Modha managed to get us to a below par 149 all out.

During the tea break, Gunalan arrived and after discussions with the umpires and opposition, he was allowed to field but not bowl. However his arrival was a boost to the side as it meant we had 11 players on the field.

With only 149 to defend, early wickets were vital and the pace attack of Barrie, Patel and Hirani needed to start well. Barrie struck first in only his second over when the dangerous Darren Mathura was dismissed by an excellent catch by Wheeler at midwicket. Crouch End were determined to take a positive approach to their reply with some questionable shot selection against Patel and Barrie who were on top form with the ball.

Barrie then picked up his second wicket when he clean bowled Moodie for only 3. Neal Patel picked up the next two wickets by roughing up the Crouch End batting line up with some fast and accurate short pitch bowling. His dismissal of the dangerous Goswami with an excellent bouncer which skied into midwicket area and Mitesh Vyas taking an excellent catch.

The batsman for Crouch End continued to play an aggressive yet slighty risky approach with Bessborough continuing to pick up crucial wickets. 

A flurry of wickets reduced Crouch End to 70-7 and victory for Bessborough looked to be in their grasp. Crouch End’s Syed Shah and Jon Smart started to rebuild their innings with some intelligent batting and some luck against Barrie who was at times unplayable.

The pair took Crouch End to over 100 and the home side sensed that once more they had a chance for victory. Once more Barrie, stepped up dismissing Shah LBW and then having Smart caught brilliantly by Hawes at short cover.

It was fitting that Barrie should pick up the final wicket clean bowling Hewavisenti to finish with figures of 6-46 from 16 overs.

It was a massive win for our first eleven, pushing them back into the promotion race. Next week is another trip to North London with us travelling to Alexandra Park.