Scorecard

Hitchin CC 2nd XI v Northwood Town Cricket Club Saturday 1st XI on Sat 02 Aug 2025 at 12:00
Northwood Town Cricket Club Lost by 98 runs

Match report Town travelled to Hitchin II, dreaming of topping the table, but instead found themselves facing a batting onslaught that could only be described as "biblical." The conditions looked good, the pitch was, and Town, with a cunning plan, wanted to bowl first. Hitchin, however, won the toss and decided to bat, perhaps sensing the impending chaos.

Hitchin's openers came out with an aggression. Singles were run with the urgency of someone late for a very important meeting, and any loose ball was dispatched to the boundary. The outfield was so quick that even Usain Bolt would have struggled to prevent a four. Town's bowlers toiled. Eventually, S. Malik, in a moment of divine intervention, removed the dangerous S. Chandarana. Town's skipper, I. Anjum, brought himself on, hoping to apply the brakes like a responsible adult. However, K. Patel, at the other end, seemed to be auditioning for a "Worst Bowling Ever" compilation video. A quick change brought on V. Vadgama, Town's answer to Glenn McGrath, who snagged a couple of quick wickets. Hitchin, once flying high, suddenly found themselves wobbling at 118/5. Then came J. Tilbury, a man with only one instruction in his brain: HIT! BALL! HARD! From ball one, he swung his bat like he was trying to chop down a redwood. It was a display of such raw, unadulterated hitting that it left Town's fielders questioning their life choices. N. Madhavan became a particular target, with the ball disappearing over his head more often than baguettes in Loomba’s bag.. Tilbury reached his 50 in just 30 balls, a feat that can only be described as "ludicrous." J. Daly eventually removed Tilbury, giving Town a glimmer of hope, but Hitchin's skipper, S. Flint, and D. Moore decided to join the party. The death overs became a boundary-hitting bonanza, with the ball sailing to all parts of the ground, regardless of where it was pitched. N. Madhavan, perhaps still traumatized by Tilbury's onslaught, decided to field like he was auditioning for a stand up comedy, dropping catches very awkwardly. Hitchin finished on a mammoth 324/6, a total that made Town's chances look slimmer than a supermodel's waistline.

Despite the daunting target and the lightning-fast outfield, Town started positively. D. Gairola, in sublime form, was hitting boundaries with the casual ease of someone buttering toast. Despite Bahl falling cheaply, Gairola and Vadgama were motoring along at 96/1. Gairola even gave Tilbury a taste of his own medicine, smashing five consecutive fours in one over. Vadgama, never one to miss an opportunity for a flamboyant shot, was playing all his "classic" strokes, including the walk-down-the-wicket on-drive. But, as always, Vadgama's good times are fleeting. He departed, and Town's innings collapsed faster than a poorly constructed sandcastle. Gairola reached his well-deserved 50 but departed shortly after. Town were 140/7 and in danger of being bowled out in 30 overs. However, N. Madhavan, perhaps trying to atone for his earlier fielding mishaps, and the ever-reliable tailenders ensured Town reached a respectable score of 226. Madhavan scored a great 50, but he just had too much to do. K. Patel contributed a few lusty blows, but Town's innings eventually fizzled out, losing by 98 runs.

I. Anjum, speaking after the game, said: "We lost the game in the field. We didn't execute our bowling plans well, and after the first innings, we were always chasing the game. We're still 2nd in the table and need to put a little winning run together like we did at the start of the season."

Hitchin CC 2nd XI Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 18w 1b 2lb 
for 6 wickets
22
324 (50.0 overs)		     
Sanjay Chandarana b  S Malik 23 27 4 85.19
Chris Malan lbw  I Anjum 43 64 7 67.19
Rory Ingram ct  D Gairola b I Anjum 13 22 3 59.09
Bertie Roskilly lbw  V Vadgama 20 29 4 68.97
Jon Guest lbw  V Vadgama 6 7 1 85.71
Steven Flint Not Out  68 69 8 98.55
James Tilbury b  J Daly 51 34 5 3 150.0
David Moore Not Out  78 49 9 3 159.18
Tristan Whittle  
Simon Bayston  
Ben Bayley  

Northwood Town Cricket Club Saturday 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Jack Daly10.0065165.006.50
Sajid Shafique Malik8.0045145.005.63
Iqbal Anjum10.0240220.004.00
Krunal Patel5.014200.008.40
Veer Vadgama10.0253226.505.30
Nischay Madhavan2.002600.0013.00
Jesant Halai5.005000.0010.00

Northwood Town Cricket Club Saturday 1st XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
16w 1b 1lb 
for 10 wickets
18
226		        
Deepak Gairola b  S Bayston 57 46 12 123.91 1
Rohit Bahl ct  B Bayley b J Tilbury 10 8 1 1 125.00
Veer Vadgama ct  C Malan b B Bayley 22 29 4 75.86
Iqbal Anjum lbw  B Bayley 0 1 0
Nischay Madhavan ct  J Tilbury b T Whittle 56 62 8 90.32
Jesant Halai ct  S Chandarana b S Bayston 14 22 3 63.64
Andy Burt ct  J Tilbury b S Bayston 0 13 0
Jack Daly ct  S Bayston b D Moore 3 10 30.0
Krunal Patel ct  S Flint b D Moore 30 24 3 2 125.00
Karan Rajani Not Out  15 36 2 41.67
Sajid Shafique Malik lbw  B Bayley 1 6 16.67

Hitchin CC 2nd XI Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
James Tilbury6.0151151.008.50
Tristan Whittle6.0042142.007.00
Simon Bayston10.0236312.003.60
Ben Bayley8.5131310.333.51
David Moore7.0026213.003.71
Chris Malan5.003800.007.60

  • Umpire :
    Colin
  • Scorer :