Scorecard

Mill Hill Village v Northwood Town Cricket Club Saturday 2nd XI on Sat 07 Jul 2012 at 1.00pm
Northwood Town Cricket Club Lost by 7 wickets

Match report Northwood Town 2nd XI were given a sound beating by an impressive Mill Hill Village side on Saturday on a wet and soggy day at their Burtonhole Lane ground. Town travelled to North London on the back of their impressive win at Broxbourne last week but were under no illusions of the task at hand against a side who are playing several divisions below themselves following their transfer from the Middlesex league a couple of years ago. To make matters worse, last week’s centurion Andy Burt was away but there were returns for Jim Cotton and Shameer Syed to the side.

Town arrived at the ground to find a sodden but decent enough wicket and outfield. A brief shower just before the start didn’t make things any easier and when skipper Ravi Ramawat lost the toss, it was no surprise that Town were asked to bat. Cotton opened up with Kunal Sanghi and the pair started cautiously but solidly enough before MH’s opening bowling pair of Overton and Nehra found their rhythm. Sanghi was sent packing with a peach of a delivery from Overton which took out the top of off stump and Ramawat followed soon after trying to play an unnecessarily expansive shot and was caught in the covers. Cotton was the constant in Town’s innings and partners came and went; Ravi Kotecha and Rich Robbins both made starts before nicking behind off Nehra and Town found themselves in trouble at 48/4. Pradip Pandey joined Cotton and the pair batted sensibly for a number of overs to take the score towards the three figures mark.

When Pandey fell for 8, it signalled another collapse as Suvin Mekwan was run out and then Adam Hills was given leg before and Town were again in desperate trouble. The change bowlers of Shah and Cara had caused the damage and when Cara finally removed Jim Cotton, caught at point for a disciplined and patient 47 (the fourth player to be removed for that jug-dodging score this season) – Town offered little resistance as they were bowled out for 110, Nishil Mapara providing some late runs with 13*. Town however knew they had a decent five pronged bowling attack and backed themselves to at least make a game of it. Neal Furmenger struck early to remove Shah but Felix Charles and Andy Potter made their intentions clear that they wanted the game over before tea. In fairness, they played some good shots but were also both incredibly lucky to survive a number of chances as catches went down and the ball kept dropping into space. Nish Mapara and Suvin Mekwan were the pick of the Town bowlers and both deservedly picked up a wicket but Town’s efforts with the bat were totally inadequate and the hosts got home comfortably for the loss of just 3 wickets.

Town shouldn’t be too despondent with the result though. In all truth, Mill Hill would probably give our first team and good game and they look nailed on to claim one of the promotion spots, probably the top one. Town picked up just 3 points from the game, their lowest return of the season but given that this was the only game to go ahead in Division 9, they were not too badly affected and held on to 4th place. Halfway through the season and the league table has taken shape. The top three, MH, Baldock and Old Owens have already opened up a big gap at the top and don’t look like being caught. It will be a real battle for that final promotion place with Broxbourne, Allenburys, Greenwood Park and Berko all poised behind Town ready to take over if Town drop points. But Town can take comfort from the fact that they have played all the big guns and must get back to winnings ways again next weekend with a tricky fixture away at Rickmansworth...that’s if it ever stops raining!

Northwood Town Cricket Club Saturday 2nd XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
3w 2lb 
for 10 wickets
5
110		        
Jamie Cotton ct b Cara 47 2
Kunal Sanghi b Overton 5
Ravi Ramawat ct b Mehra 7 1
Ravi Kotecha ct b Mehra 4
Richard Robbins ct b Mehra 13 1 1
Pradip Pandey ct b Shah 8
Suvin Mekwan Run out  8 1
Adam Hills lbw b Shah 0
Nishil Mapara Not Out  13 1
Shahmir Syed b Cara 0
Neal Furmenger lbw b Shah 0

Mill Hill Village Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
S Mehra15.0343314.332.87
D Overton17.0433133.001.94
N Shah6.511543.752.20
M Cara4.001728.504.25

Mill Hill Village Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
2b 5lb 
for 3 wickets
7
112 (23.1 overs)		     
N Shah b Furmenger 8
F Charles Not Out  49
P Smith ct Kotecha b Mapara 19
D Potter b Mekwan 6
A Potter Not Out  23
D Raval  
M Cara  
H Gajjar  
S Nehra  
S Pullen  
D Overton  

Northwood Town Cricket Club Saturday 2nd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Neal Furmenger3.0018118.006.00
Shahmir Syed3.001200.004.00
Adam Hills3.002000.006.67
Nishil Mapara7.0028128.004.00
Suvin Mekwan6.0121121.003.50
Ravi Kotecha1.101400.0012.00