LSCC vs Little Berkhamsted Sahibs CC / 29 June 2025
Another one bites the dust…
Scores:
Little Berkhamsted Sahibs CC, (239-6)
London Saints, (149-9)
Top Bowling – DT (1-14), John May (1-23), Guy C (1-29)
Top Runs – Dickie (40), Guy C (28), John May (20)
It was fair to say that some of us playing on Sunday were a little apprehensive ahead of a fixture against a new team in 30 degree heat. To add to this, it had been revealed to me by Paul P a few days before that in their last game the Sahibs had scored 396 off 40 overs. In a rare and strange turn of events, all of the LSCC team arrived at the same time- very professional. We arrived to find what was undoubtedly a lovely setting for a game of cricket, so this lifted the spirits a little. The Sahibs looked a fairly young and strong team overall, but not so much so to rule us out from the beginning.
DT lost the toss and the Sahibs chose to bat. Phil was elected to bowl the first over and was hit for a 4 off the 2nd ball but dots followed for the rest of the over, a solid start. Nanton took the ball at the other end and quickly found a lot of pace off the wicket, opening up his spell with an impressive maiden. After losing Johnny G last week for the rest of the season we certainly didn’t need any more casualties… At the end of the 2nd over Mike (who was keeping wicket) went down injured and was forced to leave the field, another one bites the dust. As I’m sure many of you know by now Mike has unfortunately fractured his ankle will be out for the rest of the season- Get well soon Mike. I hate to sound like DT, but the fact Mike started the game with a very heavily strapped ankle may suggest we need a few more people (who are fit) volunteering for games. Only an over or so after Mike’s injury Ed picked up an injury, and another one gone… Ed was luckily able to carry on for the game but with limited movement. Phil continued to follow the same pattern of one 4 amongst 5 dots for the next couple overs, very decent considering the fast and sloping outfield. Phil and Nanton bowled four overs each and at the end of their spell the Sahibs were on 46 for no loss. Both had made a very good effort with the suncream polished ball to see what their loud and confident opening batsmen were made of, unfortunately they had the game to back it up.
It was time to try something else, Mr Reporter and Guy C took the ball. Reporter’s first over was solid but after being called out for a back-foot no ball (people really check this??) he seemed to lose his rhythm a bit. Guy’s bowling was impressive, especially given that he was releasing the ball about 10 yards behind the bowling crease. Sahib’s opening pair continued to perform and chunter away, eventually resulting in their opener retiring on 53 runs. Guy’s bowling continued to be threatening and deserved a wicket- eventually it came in his 3rd over, bowling out the new batsman for 1 run and putting the Sahib’s at 100-1 after 16 overs. Mr Reporter was taken off (much to his delight given the heat and his bowling economy) and Paul P prepared to turn his arm. Paul’s first over was merely a warm up and need not be talked about, for on his first ball of his second over he took a wicket with the help of a good stumping from Dickey. Guy finished his 5 over spell and DT took the ball with the Sahibs standing at 125-2 off 19 overs, at the end of DT’s over they remained on 125-2
An opening maiden from the skipper. DT went on to get a wicket in his 2nd over after a good catch by Ed at long-on (135-3). DT’s third over provided another maiden, and then by the end of his 4th I think the heat had started to get to him. Unfortunately, Sahibs’ No4 was quite good and he ended up retiring on 52. John May and Richard G were the next set of bowlers to try and put a dent in the Sahibs momentum, in his 3rd over John M bowled out the Sahibs’ No6 who was on a solid 22 and looking to push on (200-4 off 29 overs). Richard G also proceeded to take a wicket in his 3rd over after an excellent quick-reaction catch by John M at cover. Phil came back on at the end to bowl his last two overs and grabbed a well-deserved wicket, caught by Mr Reporter at long-on in the 33rd over.
The Sahibs finished up 239-6.
LSCC Innings
Unfortunately, myself and Paul P being sent in to open the batting is a pretty sure sign that we were very much a bowling side on this particular day. Mr Reporter opened and managed to strike a 4 off the first ball, sadly this was the only runs scored by me as I painfully slowly watched mid-on fumble the ball multiple times until he eventually caught it (11-1 off 4 overs). Dickie came in at No3 and immediately seemed confident, hitting a casual sweep for 6 off his second ball. Dickie and Paul made a good partnership with ball ensuring wickets didn’t tumble and Dickie upping the run rate. The second wicket fell in the 9th over, Paul P caught and bowled (36-2). Guy came in next and also looked confident, hitting a 6 off his 4th ball. Dickie and Guy steadied the ship and Dickie continued to hit numerous boundaries, unfortunately the confidence grew too large and he was stumped attempting to play a reverse sweep. Dickie finished up on a very respectable 40 runs (85-3 off 17 overs). To add to the blow of Dickie’s dismissal Guy was caught in the next over having scored 28 runs.
Nanton and John May were now in at No5&6, a big partnership was needed at this point- John M hit a shot straight to mid-off and called a run (to his credit he got to my umpiring end in very quick time). However, Nanton had been caught unawares of John May’s sprint and could only watch on as the ball was thrown to the keeper with Nanton only a third of the way down the wicket. It was remembered at the end of the game that Nanton had dropped a catch off John M’s bowling…
LSCC had lost 3 wickets in quick succession (96-5 off 19 overs). Phil came in at No7 and developed a decent partnership with John M until the 27th over when he was caught after scoring 20 (127-6).
Ed came in at No8 still sore from his early injury, he was unfortunately caught and bowled in the 29th over (136-7). Richard G came in at No9 and was caught for a silver duck, leaving Phil and DT to try and see out the overs. DT was caught in the 31st over having scored 1 run (the first time he has troubled the scorers this season!) and Phil ended up 18 not out. With Mike sadly unable to play we finished up 149-9 off 31 overs.
Man of the Match – I’d like to give the man of the match award to Guy- a solid batting performance which included a lovely 6, a long bowling spell that was threatening and could with more luck on our side have brought more than the 1 wicket. Solid in the field, an all-round good performance.
Terrence Collis Champagne Moment – A couple contenders for this award, firstly John May’s excellent catch that had he not made it look so comfortable probably would have got even more of a reaction. However, I’d like to give the award to Dickie for his casual sweep 6 off his second ball, he made it look absurdly easy as it flew over the leg-side boundary.
Village Moment – One contender was Paul P saying that one of the Shahibs bowlers was bowling a ‘heavy ball’ which is funny in of itself, but made more funny by the fact that the gentleman bowling was the Pakistani record holder for shot put. However, the award must go to Dave Nanton. Nanton had brought his rather expensive drone to the ground and was hovering it over near the boundary when he decided to experiment with ‘Cinematic’ mode- the drone then went into a mind of its own and started flying into the trees causing it to crash! I’m not sure if this was before or after Dave was runout but either way insult was added to injury.
Little Berkhamsted Sahibs (239-6 off 35 overs)
Ruthy 53*
Josh st Dickie b Pearce 35
Sam b Guy 1
Max 52*
Amir ct Ed b DT 10
Jack b John M 22
Angus ct John M b Richard G 20
Mani ct Sykes b Phil 12
James 3*
Shish 14*
EXTRAS 17
London Saints (149-9 off 31 overs)
Sykes b Amir 4
Paul P ctb Mo 6
Dickie st b Mo 40
Guy C ct b Angus 28
D Nanton runout 6
John May ct b Mani 20
Phil R 18*
Ed P ctb Mani 2
Richard G ct Mani 0
DT ct Max 1
Mike DNB
EXTRAS 24
Rogers 6-0-35-1
Nanton 4-1-20-0
Sykes 4-0-27-0
Cowley 5-0-29-1
Pearce 4-0-44-1
Thomas 4-2-14-1
R Griffiths 4-0-35-1
May 4-0-23-1
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