Last Sunday of the season ... awoken by thunder ... draw curtains to behold slate-grey skies and moderate precipitation. Return from invigorating shower to note that the rain is much heavier now ... only thing to do is ignore it and have some breakfast. Fetch the newspaper ("Good boy!") and call at the Common to find Mike T, and his two trusty companions, hard at work on the square, China Charlie white-lining the boundary and Chairman John on the tractor mowing the outfield while being followed at a respectful distance by the trotting Angus. All this extra work for switching the fixture from Ivinghoe & Pitstone ... thanks, lads. The sun is now shining ... game on ... with a 12.30 start.

Charlie won the toss, invited the visitors to bat first and the match was under way by 12.42. Not surprisingly the track was a bit slow after so much rain, but the visiting batsmen, Rice (40) and Badrick (27), took them to 97 in the 27th.over, at which score each lost his wicket. By now Sohail Rauf had changed ends and wickets began to fall more regularly; Atif Mirza grabbed two (for 33) from the Plough end, followed by Jeremy Stevens with two more (for 25 from 12 overs). After two and a half hours, and 40 overs, came the tea declaration at 140 for 8 wickets. Sohail, sporting a severe, bordering on the military, haircut, presumably to afford him less wind resistance, finished with 3 wickets for 27 from 11 overs. The fielding had, as ever, been enthusiastic, even to the point of conceding overthrows on some quick, if not entirely accurate, return throws.

Tea, with several sorts of sponge cake, was the usual delight ... thanks to the ladies for organising it at such short notice. Today's earlier start must have thrown out Mr.WebbeMaster's body clock, for when he, and his photographic equipment, arrived tea was over ... not to worry, some had been saved for him. A collage of some of his best shots of the year would make a splendid display at the dinner.

The Hyde Heath reply was going along nicely...they were halfway to the target in the 17th.over, and still had 8 wickets in hand, thanks to openers Henry Capper (35) and Matt Sims (25), but the next 17 overs yielded just 30 runs and the loss of 5 wickets as the home side's innings displayed the same level of excitement as drying paint. When the ninth wicket fell 22 deliveries had yet to be negotiated, but Charlie (They Shall Not Pass) Samuels and Sohail Rauf saw them to safety at 121 for 9 in 40 overs. For the visitors the chief wicket-takers were -guess who- Rice with 5 for 22 from 17 overs and Badrick with 3 for 34 from 11. Thanks to Paul Haddock for a long-ish spell of umpiring.

Result:. IVINGHOE & PITSTONE 140-8 HYDE HEATH 121-9 Match drawn

So, another season passes, and a good one it was for Hyde Heath ... Played 23, Won 14, Drawn 7, Lost 2 ... probably the best season since the Club was formed in 1963...

Henry Capper scored 904 runs; there were countless batting partnerships in excess of 50 runs; Jeremy Stevens took 48 wickets and there was much excellence in the field, but who are the main contenders for the duck cup ?? All shall be revealed when the stats. are given general publication at this year's dinner (28th.October ... hon.sec.has details)

We are almost at the end of a very successful season and are pleased to welcome new visitors to the Common, Abbots Langley C.C ... (Monks last week, Abbots this week... has the hon.fixtures sec., belatedly, got religion ??) The visitors won the toss, opted for first use of the wicket and their innings was under way at 1.12 pm.

Cublington started steadily and were ticking along nicely at about 4.5 runs per over. Their main striker was the young opener, Osborne, who shared in stands of 83 and 45 for the second and fourth wickets; he had employed the drive to good effect, but, due to the damp outfield, many of his strokes did not reach the boundary. He was fourth out at 142, having compiled 95 entertaining runs (9 fours and 3 sixes). That he had not made a well deserved century was a disappointment, especially to him, but the good work was continued by Chastney (27). Richard Austin joined the attack and he bowled well to wreck the Cublington tail as they finished their 40 overs at 194 for 8 wickets. Richard took 5 wickets for 44 runs from his eight overs and he was well supported by James Shrimpton with 2 for 35 from 8.

Before tea we were pleased to receive a visit from Mr.Webbe-Master, who was having a solo awayday and clearly keen to take action photos on a foreign field. And so to tea, where the scones with jam and cream looked particularly appetising.

Henry Capper started the reply at an alarming pace, taking 14 off the first over, but that rate clearly could not last. The opening partnership, worth 50, was broken in the eighth over, but Henry continued in attack mode, striking the ball to all parts, and was sixth man out with the innings total on 154, of which his contribution had been 87 (9 fours, 2 sixes and a five !) 87 is the Australian unlucky number, because it is thirteen short of one hundred. What was needed now was another batsman to take control of the Hyde Heath innings; runs were needed at 5 per over, and for a while it looked doubtful that this could be achieved, but Richard Austin, with the all-round performance of the day, saw the visitors to their target at 195 for 7 wickets, with 2.4 overs to spare. Richard scored 44 (6 fours and 1 six) with some judicious strokeplay, and, coincidentally, that was exactly the number of runs which he had conceded in his bowling spell.

Congratulations to Cublington C.C. on their new and well-appointed scorebox; it gave your correspondent excellent shelter on a windy day.

Result: CUBLINGTON 194-8 (40 overs)        HYDE HEATH 195-7 (37.2 overs)    Hyde Heath Won

Charlie, as captain, has already achieved one more win than in 2005 and Henry Capper has scored 803 runs.

Pictures: Richard Austin taking two of his five wickets - those of Farr & Squires

Next Sunday: at Monks Risborough 1.00 pm. start (if the opposition arrive punctually)

27th August and the end of another season in sight ... next Sunday we shall be into September with early, and very early, starts. Today we welcome again the Bank of England Touring squad, who won the toss and asked Hyde Heath to bat first.

It was situation normal with Henry Capper in dominant mood. He shared in a stand of 57 with Dominic Haddock (19) for the first wicket and then 56 with James Shrimpton (23) for the second. Henry's was the fifth wicket to fall for a disappointing 93 (14 fours and 1 six), unlucky seven short of a hundred, and he'd looked a certainty centurion. There was some late belligerence from Atif Mirza (22) and Bradley Holt (28 not out) and Henry was able to declare on the fall of the eighth wicket at 221 after 37.5 overs. For the visitors White had the best return with 3 wickets for 25 runs, and he was well supported by Hussain with 3 for 61.

Tea was of the usual high-class Hyde Heath standard, thanks to Caroline Cousins and Michelle Holt; your correspondent is distraught to learn that he missed the high-octane chocolate gateau.

The Bank were soon in trouble after tea as the opening attack partnership of Bradley and Tim Nutman had half their side out for 54. Changes in the bowling gave all the spinners the opportunity to show their wares, but it was the batsmen who triumphed. Austin-theirs, not ours-held the tail together with a well-struck 81, and although Jeremy Stevens grabbed a couple of late wickets the last pair, White and Hussain-who else- stood firm. The visitors ended 68 runs short of their target, but with an honourable draw, at 154 for 9 wickets from 40 overs.

For Hyde Heath Bradley bowled well to finish with 4 wickets for 21 runs from 13 overs, while Tim had 2 for 25 from 8 and Jeremy 2 for 14 from 6.

Result:    HYDE HEATH 221-8 dec.       BANK OF ENGLAND TOURING 154-9.    Match drawn

Next fixture: at Cublington Sunday, Sept.3rd. 1.00 pm.start

China Charlie won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first, an experience which they clearly did not enjoy as the ball stayed low and slow on the damp wicket. James Aird was getting the ball to hustle through, and he got good support from his opening bowling partner, Tim Nutman. After 20 overs the visitors were 50 for 4 wickets and after 30 overs 79 for 8 ; the magic of Atif Mirza had been unleashed from the Plough End and he effectively put a brake on the scoring to bring a crumbling Gamecocks innings to 106 all out (off 45 overs) at tea o'clock. Atif took 4 wickets for 22 runs from 12 overs and James took 3 for 29 from 14. There had been some good catches ... two for the acrobatic keeper, Danny Samuels, and a nice tumbling one at deep square leg by Dave Brennan, who was playing only because son, Luke, appeared to have gone a.w.o.l.

Tea, with a splendid assortment of sandwiches and creamy sponge cakes, thanks to Charlotte and Kirstie, was, as ever, a delight.

The Hyde Heath reply got off to a rollicking start as Dom.Haddock, fresh from theatrical success in Edinburgh, clipped an enterprising 26, but the run rate began to slow. Despite a well-considered 44 ( 6 fours) from James Shrimpton the relatively low target was not achieved until 34.5 overs had passed, i.e. we had 3.1 overs to spare and five wickets in hand. For the visitors Adams bowled a containing role, taking 3 wickets for 38 runs from 13 overs. Our thanks to Chris.Simpson for donning the umpire's coat.

Result: GAMECOCKS 106         HYDE HEATH 107-5          Hyde Heath won by 5 wickets.

Next Sunday sees the last of our norirnal start times, 2.00 pm., in a match at The Common v. Bank of England Touring. (All start times in September shall be 1.00 pin.)

Sunday morning, August 13'h. Draw back curtains ... ugh ... return from invigorating shower to find that the rain is falling even harder ... this is not permitted on a match day, surely. The words of one of Granny's old sayings filter down through the ether... "Rain before seven, clear before eleven." And so it proves. The Longwick wicket is made occasionally lively by the extra moisture, but we are pleased to get a game in when many other local matches are being cancelled. The skipper is back from his missionary work in China; he loses the toss, and Hyde Heath is asked to bat first in a 40 overs per side game.

Henry Capper has also returned to us after his tour of transatlantic territories and he shares a stand of 84 with Tim Barnsley (36 - 5 fours) for the third wicket. His own contribution is 65 which includes 12 fours and some elegant strokeplay, but after his dismissal the run rate goes into serious decline, thanks to a good bowling spell by home captain, Edwards (4 for 35). Jeremy Stevens (34 not out - 5 fours) then adds 74 runs in an unbroken stand with James Aird (41 not out - 6 fours, 1 six) to bring the visitors' total score to 218 for 6 wickets after 40 overs. Elworthy also bowled well for Longwick to finish with 2 for 13 from his 8 overs.

After tea the home side was always behind the clock despite the efforts of Morton (4 1) and, strong contender for man of the match, this, Elworthy (67). With four overs remaining Longwick needed 42 runs for victory and they had 6 wickets in hand, but it was not to be as James (2 for 23) and Jeremy (3 for 35) bowled tightly enough to restrict them to 189 for 8 wickets after 40 overs. The difference between the two sides was the fifth bowler, but all were agreed that both teams had been fortunate in not having a single break in play due to rain.

Result: HYDE HEATH 218-6                LONGWICK 189-8                Hyde Heath won by 29 runs.

Next Sunday (20th.August) at The Common v. Gamecocks 2.00 start

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Another warm Sunday, but this one with a generous amount of cloud cover. Visitors to The Common today are Bourne End (the Hertfordshire one) and they also seem to have difficulty in grasping the laws of time, giving the excuse of lack of communication from their fixtures secretary. Their skipper is the last to arrive, and our captain for the day, Richard Austin, meets him at the wicket, wins the toss and invites the visitors to bat first.

We are finally under way thirty-eight minutes late and after five overs Bourne End are 20 for 2 wickets, but this brings to the crease Yousuf, who employs the drive to great effect, together with some wristy work on the legside. He shares in a stand of 128 for the third wicket with Goodinson (49 off 93 balls inc.nine fours) and when he is finally out to a solid catch on the long-on boundary he has scored 90 from 65 deliveries with nineteen fours. This is the backbone of the visitors' innings enabling them to reach a teatime declaration of 193 for 5 wickets. The bowling figures are a bit of a curate's egg (good in parts), so we shall gloss over them.

Teatime, with brie and grape sandwiches, brownies and personal attention from a limping handmaiden who delivers cups of tea before, during and after the interval ... thank you. Mr.and Mrs.Webbe-Master are again in evidence, he taking many action shots to make these reports appear more interesting.

Hyde Heath's reply is a workmanlike performance; each of the first five batsmen get into the twenties or thirties, but we require someone to score a fifty and hold the innings together. At 161 for 3 we need 33 from the 7 overs remaining, and we look favourites to win. (We lost that third wicket because Richard Cousins decided to hand his steamed-up spectacles to the square-leg umpire, rather than clean them, and he was caught behind the very next ball.)

The pavilion end attack now causes a clatter of wickets and a dose of the jitters as we are suddenly down to the last pair of Will Reynolds and Tim Nutman, who bravely stand firm, with the latter cheekily clipping the last ball of the innings to the square-leg boundary as the home side reaches 188 for 9, just six runs short of the target.

For Bourne End G.Scillitoe bowled steadily to take 3 for 36 from 9 overs, but the real devastation was caused by W.Hill who took 4 for 7 in 2 !! There were good knocks for Hyde Heath from Richard Cousins (35), Tom Jeffreys (33) and James Shrimpton (32), but they were not quite enough to get us over the line...

Result: BOURNE END 193-5 HYDE HEATH 188-9 Match drawn.

Pictures: Bourne End's Turpin bowled Stevens for 2

That's the third consecutive Sunday drawn match ... let's see what happens next week at Longwick (2.00 start).

After the wonders of Wiltshire it was home again to a regular weekend fixture and on this Sunday (30^th July) Hyde Heath was at home to Turville Park, who were finally ready to start the match twenty-two minutes late. China Charlie won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first. They lost their first wicket at 13, but there then followed two long stands, and Australians were involved in each. Flakelar and Wade put on 87 (the Australian unlucky number, because it is 13 runs short of a century) for the second wicket and then Wade and Buys added a further 79 for the third wicket.

Flakelar hit eight fours in his 51 and Wade, who was eventually out for 116, amassed twenty-one fours and one six. The home attack had not been put to the sword in such a fashion since the match at Chipperfield in 2005, and although James Aird took two wickets they had cost him dearly. Tom Jeffreys was happy, because his three overs had cost him less than ten runs apiece, but, all told, Hyde Heath was pleased to see the tea interval and a declaration at 224 for 5 wickets after 39 overs.       
The tea interval, being a little later than usual, caught Mr and Mrs.Webbe-Master slightly unawares, but we were soon to hear the merry whirr and click of the motor drive in action. By the way, there was chocolate sponge again...

After tea the pitch changed character, and batting on it became difficult for all, except for James Shrimpton. He hit a splendid 54 (eight fours and one six), but wickets were falling all around him and at 86 for 6, with thirteen overs remaining, defeat looked a distinct possibility. However, those two bowling stalwarts, Alistair Richards and James Aird, came together and negotiated this tricky period. it wasn't pretty to watch, but at least the draw was achieved at 106 for 6 wickets, also after 39 overs. For the visitors the young spinner, Thornton, bowled well to take 4 for 32 from 13 overs. We can only ascribe such an abject batting performance to "post-tour" stress; it was too much to ask a team to reach a target in excess of 200 runs for a third consecutive match ... where was Alex Davidson when you needed him ??

Result: TURVILLE PARK 224-5 dec. HYDE HEATH 106-6. Match drawn.

Pictures: Turville's Ganapathy bowled Aird for 8

Next week ( Sun., 6th. August) at the Common 2.00 start v. Boume End.

Wagons westward ... to Wiltshire ... for the annual tour. This year China Charlie had assembled a very fit, very able and very young squad. Jeremy Stevens was entrusted with the captaincy and Charlie himself stood as umpire, doubtless so that he could witness at first hand the actions and decisions of his nominated deputy. Each of the matches was a 40 overs-per-side affair and seemed to follow a set pattern, starting with Jeremy winning the toss and asking the home side to bat first. At Box ( where that great briton, I.K.Brunel, built his famous tunnel ) on Wednesday at Box the home side amassed a formidable 220 all out in 36.4 overs, thanks mainly to good knocks by ex-Wiltshire star, Foley (30), Bond (56) and their Australian import, Grammatikos (77).

For Hyde Heath Jeremy took 4 wickets for 27 runs from 11 overs, and James Shrimpton 3 for 19 from 5.4. They were backed up by some good fielding on what is not a particularly large ground. After tea the visitors were always above the required rate with excellent contributions from Alex Davidson (5 1 -from only 23 balls), James Shrimpton (47, more sedately, from 76) and Luke Brennan (33 from 27). There then followed a mini-collapse but this brought together Atif Mirza (22*) and James Aird (22*) in a quickfire partnership of 36 for the ninth wicket.

With three balls of the innings remaining James hit a six to see the visitors home by two wickets. Joy was unconfined ... this was the first time that we had beaten Box.

At Bishops Cannings on Friday there was a restriction of 8 overs per bowler. The home batsmen jogged along at 4 runs per over with opener Cottis (44) and Moss junior being the major scorers. Unfortunately young Charlie Moss seriously damaged a cruciate ligament in hitting his final six and was obliged to retire hurt on 77. The loss of further wickets meant that the home side needed runs, and quickly, and these came courtesy of Rapson (43) and a guest (SNM-22), enabling the home side to reach 219 for 7 wickets from their 40 overs.

For the visitors Alistair Richards had the best bowling return from his 8 overs ... 5 maidens and 3 wickets (all bowled) for 27 runs. Hyde Heath lost 2 wickets at 13, but this brought together Alex Davidson and James Shrimpton and whilst the latter was happy to slip into a support role Alex was in mayhem mode at the other end. He reached 50 in 29 balls, 100 in 64 balls and, though he tried to get himself out, he eventually retired on 123 (from 74 balls with 9 sixes and 13 fours). James' contribution to their partnership of 147 was 35, and the good work was continued by Chris.Simpson and Luke Brennan (22*) who finished the match with a six and 9.3 overs to spare.

Results: BOX 220 (36.4 overs) HYDE HEATH 225-8 (39.4 overs)

Hyde Heath won by 2 wickets

BISHOPS CANNINGS 219-7 (40 overs) HYDE HEATH 220-3 (30.3 overs)

Hyde heath won by 7 wickets

Player of the tour: James Shrimpton

So, just when we think we have the measure of Wiltshire, there is talk of the 2007 Tour taking place in the uncharted reaches of darkest Kent...

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Thursday pm. telephone Club Cricket Conference emergency fixtures bureau, again... still no joy re. a match for Sunday. Resolve to ring again at midday on the morrow. Get back from the gym. at 11.45 on Friday to find three messages waiting, one of them from Woodley (near Reading). Telephone their secretary and arrange the fixture, confirming it and directions to The Common by e-mail. So, a 2.30 start has been agreed, to allow our visitors enough time to find us ... They win the toss and ask Hyde Heath to bat first on a day which is cloudy, but still warm.

Henry Capper and Dominic Haddock carried on from where they had left off the previous Sunday, when they shared an unbroken opening partnership of 116 in 63 minutes. Today they weren't quite so flamboyant ... just 75 in 55 minutes, with Henry notching 66 and Dominic 27. After they were out Hyde Heath found the going a bit tough, but Tim Bamsley held the innings together with a timely knock of 53 (including two sixes) and he shared a stand of 44 for the seventh wicket with Tom Jeffreys (24). Even the captain got to the wicket, as the accompanying photograph of a determined China Charlie shows, and the tea declaration came at 207 for 9 wickets from 38 overs. For the visitors Ellis bowled well to finish with 4 wickets for 46.

Tea, with egg and bacon sandwiches, various flavours of cake (carrot, lemon and chocolate) and yet another visit from Mr.and Mrs.Webbe-Master, together with grandson, tripod and motor-drive. Photographs are a very welcome addition to the website text, and it keeps our correspondent in New Zealand happy...

Afterwards Woodley were ticking along contentedly at three runs per over. At 44 for 2 Ellis joined the left-handed opener, Stanley, and together they plundered 107 runs from an apparently tiring home attack. With his change bowlers getting no reward, and the match slipping out of control, Charlie recalled the opening bowlers to the fray, and was immediately rewarded as Jeremy Stevens in his second spell grabbed 6 wickets for 13 runs in just four overs. Woodley now needed 30 runs with two wickets and four overs in hand, so suddenly Hyde Heath were favourites again. But the visitors held out to finish on 187 for 9 wickets, as fluctuating and exciting a draw as you could wish for. Jeremy finished with 6 wickets for 35 runs from 10 overs and he got good support from James Aird (2 for 49 from 14). For the visitors Stanley hit 51 (nine fours) and Ellis (prime candidate for man of the match, 64 with eleven fours and one six)

Result: HYDE HEATH 207-9 dec. WOODLEY 187-9 Match drawn.

Pictures: China Charlie in determined mood,
Tom Jeffries wicket falls, Woodley opener Stanley in action with Henry Capper Tim Barnsley & Tom Jeffries

Sunday, 30th July v. Turville Park at home (2.00 start)

Sunday, 9h.July ... opened curtains to behold leaden skies and heavy rain ... never mind about today's Wimbledon and World Cup finals, what about our match this afternoon at Ballinger !! Clearing skies and a blustery drying wind ensured that the game was started on time, or near enough; 2.07 p.m. being within the range of reasonable. Ballinger Waggoners won the toss and invited Hyde Heath to bat first ... must have a word with China Charlie about his calling technique, because, according to my records, he hasn't won the toss since 28th.May...

Our batsmen found the going tough on the rain-affected wicket and initially saw a rate of three runs per over difficult to maintain, despite a dashing opening 60 ( 12 fours ) from the in-form Henry Capper. He had put on 52 runs for the second wicket with Andy Williamson, but when the latter was unluckily run out the innings seemed to lose its way until Richard Austin played his usual quickfire knock ( 3 fours and 2 sixes in his 32 ). His departure at 124 for 6 wickets brought together two more bowler/batsmen and, as last week, another reviving stand took place. This time the participants were James Aird ( 41 not out, 5 fours and 2 sixes ) and Jeremy Stevens ( 18 not out, 3 fours ). Together they added 55 runs in an unbroken partnership for the eighth wicket, enabling the teatime declaration at 179 for 7 wickets off exactly 40 overs. Lloyd and McDonald had bowled economically for the home side with 2 for 29 and 2 for 14 respectively.

Tea ... your correspondent was slow to the table due to his attempts at balancing the batting and bowling figures. When he got there he found that a swarm of locusts had beaten him to it, and he thought of the delights of the home ground teatable where caring handmaidens attended upon his every gastric need ... ah, well...

Back on the field Jeremy Stevens snatched the first three Ballinger wickets to put them in trouble at 17 for 3. Three batsmen subsequently made twenties, but couldn't build that necessary big innings, and it was left to Salisbury to play the captain's part by holding the tail together whilst still going for the win. James Aird had bowled steadily to take 4 wickets for 51 runs in 13 overs, but he and the other seamers seemed unable to bowl fast and straight at no. 11’s stumps. It was left to Tom Jeffreys to buy the last wicket with his own brand of spin, and it worked as a steepling shot found its way into the hands of Andy Williamson at deep square leg. So Ballinger were all out for 159 with 8 balls remaining, and lost by 20 runs.

This had been a nicely-balanced game throughout. Salisbury hit 44 runs ( 5 fours ), Jeremy took 3 wickets for 21 runs from his 9 overs, and Tom ( congratulations on your first at Oxford ) finished with 3 for 34. Seven catches were held and five put down ... Quite a good ratio, really. Most frustrated man present was Alistair Richards, who could not arrive in time for the match because his car had suffered a little Lancastrian larceny, but, repairs completed, arrived just before tea. There had been an extremely adequate replacement for him in the team, and he found that several tours of the boundary were better therapy than just watching.

Result: HYDE HEATH 179-7 dec.               BALLINGER WAGGONERS 159

Hyde Heath won by 20 runs

Sunday, 16th.July at Chesham Bois 2.00 start

After all the hustle and bustle of last weekend the more sedate pace of a pre-match barbecue lunch chez Haddock, and very pleasant it was too ! So, which of today's two teams would Dominic play for ? Neither, since he was involved with some stage activity, which will, apparently, take him to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe ... break a leg, or whatever it is that thespians wish each other ...

On arrival at the Common the hon.scorer noticed something which he wished he had seen before, namely that the current scorebook had become full with the completion of the match against the President's Xl. Into the home changing room lockers where many an old scorebook is stored and we found one of 1971 vintage with many blank pages. So we took our place with Blayney, Godfrey, Lowe, Merrick, Stevens and Thomson, R ... all our yesterdays...

On the field on yet another scorcher of a day the visitors, Southwell Ramblers, won the toss, invited Hyde Heath to bat first and were initially successful, in that during the 16th. over they had half the home side out with just 68 runs on the board. Chief executioners were the opening bowlers, both left-armers, McEwan and Fitt. Richard Austin had hit a quickfire 35 and was the cause of an embarrassing incident. It seems that the ball flew skyward off the shoulder of his bat and that the likely recipient would be Paul Haddock at slip. Wicketkeeper Turner, although he had enough time, declined to shove PH out of the way and guarantee safe re-entry into his gloved hand. Of course, the chance went down. Meanwhile the home side was in sore need of runs, and it got some in useful knocks from Jeremy Stevens and Atif Mirza. At 138 for 8 Alistair Richards, who had been holding the tail together, was joined by Will Reynolds, a young man of 17 who is more used to the second row at Chiltern than the batting crease. Together, with patience and careful shots, they added 68 runs unbroken for the ninth wicket in 11 overs and saw the home side to a teatime total of 206 for 8 wickets declared.

Alistair's chanceless innings of 43 not out was from 58 balls and contained seven fours and one six, whilst Will's haul of 17 not out contained two fours and was from 31 balls.

For the Ramblers Fitt took 3 wickets for 36 runs from 12 overs and McEwan 2 for 51 from 9.

After a delicious tea (highlight-poppy seed cake ... hmmmm..) the visitors' reply was soon in trouble at 2 for 2 as Will, using his height well, found two quick yorkers. This brought to the wicket visiting skipper, Alistair Turner, who made his intentions clear from the start. The ball in the outfield had been running well for the batsmen and it continued to do so with interest as it was now despatched to all parts-he was particularly hard on Atif Mirza whose three overs yielded 30 runs, but down at the other end he was gradually running out of partners as Richard Austin and Alistair Richards bowled tightly. Turner reached his century just before the fall of the final wicket; his 104 not out contained one six and eighteen fours and was from 76 balls; such an achievement could not have been reached by a nicer chap.

The visitors' final total was 153 and the bowlers to do well were Alistair Richards ( 3 for 32 from 7.5 overs ), Will Reynolds ( 2 for 20 from 5 ) and Richard Austin ( 2 for 38 from 7 )

Thanks to Mike Thompson for producing a wicket in which there was something for everyone, and also to Chris Simpson, who stood as umpire for the entire match.

Result: HYDE HEATH 206 - 8 dec. SOUTHWELL RAMBLERS 153

Hyde Heath won by 53 runs

Sunday, 25th.June ... 6 months to Christmas Day ... the Annual Six-a-Side Tournament was blighted by late, in some cases very late, withdrawals due to England's participation in the soccer (!!!) World Cup on that day. In the event a "round robin" competition was held between the remaining four teams i.e. Hyde Heath, ASBOs, Southwell Ramblers and the Colts, with the Colts coming top of the table and Hyde Heath runners-up.

The Six-aSide Cup, together with individual trophies, was presented afterwards by the Club's general secretary and organiser of this event. He was delighted that such a young squad had won the Cup, although identifying them individually when batting proved difficult for the scorer, because they are all of an age that requires the wearing of a helmet. The event would not have been such a success without the sterling work of certain persons. The umpires performed a splendid job, as did the ball-finding squads and those operators of the P.A., Chris.and Margaret. The catering, as ever, was superb ... Grateful thanks to you all.

ASBOs 70-2 Hyde Heath 71-4.

Southwell Ram.   57-2 Colts 60-0.

ASBOs 58-3     Colts 59-2.

Southwell Ram. 57-2   H.H. 58-0.

ASBOs 71-1 S  outhwell R.53-1.

Hyde Heath 46-3   Colts 47-1.

Saturday, 24^th June: President's Day ... warm and sunny and a good match in prospect... We look forward to the meeting of old friends and a glass or two of conviviality. After the usual splendid lunch ... thank you, ladies ... the President's Xl, as is the custom, batted first. They lost their first wicket with the total on 31, but the second wicket did not go down until a further 138 runs had been added. This was mainly due to some handsome striking by Clive Bourne, of Stoke Green, aided and abetted by the solid Andy Williamson. Clive hit 15 fours and 4 sixes, and when he reached his century (102) he retired. At the other end Andy struck 6 fours in his knock of 53. There was so much searching for the ball in the woods that the home side managed to send just 33 overs down before tea, and the best of the bowlers was Jeremy Stevens with one wicket for 30 runs from nine overs. The President's XI declared at 192 for 4 wickets.

Tea ... with sandwiches on granary bread and sponge cake with runny chocolate ... mmn.

The Hyde Heath reply was never far behind the asking rate, thanks to three good stands. Henry Capper (43) and Matt Sims (2 1) added 74 as the opening pair. Then Simon NapierMunn and Richard Austin (43) put on 52 for the third wicket and this was followed by an unbroken partnership of 65 between Richard Cousins and James Aird (41 not out). Thus the target was reached with four balls to spare. Thank you, Mr.President ... shall we do it again next year ??

Result: PRESIDENT'S XI 192-4 dec. HYDE HEATH 196-4.

Robin Richards

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Sunday, 4th.June ... warm and sunny ... how pleasant to sit at the scoretable and not be attired like Nanook of the North. We welcomed to the Common our near-neighbours, Ley Hill C.C., who won the toss and asked us to bat first. Henry Capper and Matt Sims had no problem in adding 64 runs for the first wicket in 18 overs. Henry made 36 (which brings his average down to a miserable 113 ! ) while Matt, who was looking good for at least a half-century, was disappointingly dismissed for 45. After their departure there didn't seem to be much to follow, until James Aird and Alistair Richards (nos.7&8 ) laid about them to good-ish effect.

They were followed by an aggressive little cameo from Bradley Holt, who made a quickfire 27 not out, enabling Hyde Heath to reach the comparatively safe waters at tea of 160 for 8 wickets, but it had taken 44 overs to get there ... the visitors had stuck to their task well and Phillips was their best bowler with 3 wickets for 25 runs from 10 overs.

Tea where the top taste-bud tickler was the banana cake, closely followed by the jam and cream scones ... delicious.

During the tea interval we received another visit from Mr & Mrs.Webbe-Master. He, dissatisfied with the piece of photographic kit he had recently purchased, had returned it in favour of a more sophisticated, and therefore more expensive, item. We were treated after tea to the sounds of high-speed motor drive and rapid shutter-clicking, as he sought to take some good action shots. There was action a-plenty on the field, for after the visitors had lost their first wicket at 38, Ottaway began to assert himself, striking 15 fours and 1 six in a dominating innings of 91, which was approximately 70 % of the total at the point of his dismissal. ( Such aggression may well have been sparked by some unwarranted "sledging" by two of the younger members of the fielding side ). Whatever the cause, Ottaway's knock gave the impetus that Ley Hill needed to reach their target of 165 for 4 offjust 32 overs. Unluckiest man on the field was Holman, the visitors' no.3 bat. He was run out for 13 when the ball was driven smartly back to the bowler, Holt, who inadvertently diverted it from his legs to the stumps with Holman well out of his ground.

(Pictures: above - Jeremy Stevens bowling to A Shakoor
right - a James Aird delivery)

Result: HYDE HEATH 160-8 dec. LEY HILL 165-4. Ley Hill won by 6 wickets

Next week, Sunday 11 th.June; Hyde Heath v. Full Tossers at the Common ( 2.00 )

Tea ... a splendid assortment of sandwiches and cakes, the coffee gateau being particularly appetising. During this interval we were pleased to receive a visit from Mr.and Mrs. Webbe-Master; he had come to take some action shots with a recently-acquired piece of photographic hardware, and they both deserved a cup of tea to keep out the cold. For your scorer it had so far been a two-sweater day; these were augmented after tea with a forest coat.

The visitors' reply was ticking along at 4 runs per over, but then Jeremy Stevens struck; he had their first four batsmen back in the pavilion with just 21 runs on the board and at a personal cost of only four runs. Then there was a double bowling change. James Shrimpton, operating from the pavilion end took a further four wickets for no runs at all, and this helped to condemn the "On Call Medics" to the unflattering total of 38 all out. They had been cheerful and sociable opponents and we wished them well on their long journeys home.

HYDE HEATH 235-2 dec. ON CALL MEDICS 38 Hyde heath won by 197 runs.

Sunday, 21st.May, 2006 Hyde Heath v. Great Missenden Pelicans ( 2.00 start )

Mike Thompson II had done an excellent job in preparing the wicket, and he had covered it during the rain of the previous day. China Charlie was back with us after his oriental travels; he lost the toss and Hyde Heath was invited to take first use of the wicket.

And so to tea, with excellent sandwiches ( I liked the brie and apple ), lemon drizzle cake, Victoria sponge and compliments a-plenty from opposition and home teams alike.

v. STOKE GREEN at Hyde Heath ( 2.00 start)