Sunday 1st XI Vs Biddenham

Two wins on the bounce for the Sunday 1st XI leading into today had seen us climb the table after the disappointing result away at Harrold on the opening day of the season. Biddenham were the visiting team, which meant a return to Eversholt for former 1st XI fast bowler James Gaul.

Buzz won the toss and elected to bat first on a track that had seen over 450 runs scored on it on Saturday. By the time the start came however, it had started to rain, so a delay of an hour, and a match reduced to 32 overs per side.

Buzz and Josh opened the batting and both were positive against the new ball, which didn’t offer as much sideways movement as Biddenham were hoping for given the overcast conditions. Not long into the match, Buzz strained his hamstring, meaning that running between the wickets was difficult. This gave Buzz license to attack and hit boundaries, which he did to good effect before eventually falling LBW for 37, with the score 76-1 after 10 overs.

Jake joined Josh the two kept the scoring rate high. With the field spread there weren’t many dot balls, and the pair found the boundary with regularity. Josh went to his first 50 of the season off just 44 balls before Jake was out LBW to off spinner Turner looking to hit big over the leg side.  Hassam came in and wasted no time in continuing the scoring, whilst Josh attacked having reached his milestone. Eventually Josh was out for 76 caught looking to hit Turner over the top, and with the score 183-3 Jack walked in with license to hit big.

That’s exactly what he did, smacking 38 off just 17 balls, including seven 4s and a 6. Hass was out caught in the dying overs for 34 off 22, and some good striking from Darren and Ross took Eversholt to an imposing 269-5 off 32.

Ricky and Niaz shared the new ball, and bowled well, not allowing the Biddenham openers to get away from us in a big chase. Niaz had opener Morrish caught for 13 in the 6th over, and not long after we were running for clubhouse as the rain came back heavily. Just 2 overs were lost to the rain, and Biddenham’s target was adjusted to 252 in 30 overs.

More tight bowling from Ricky and Hass meant that at the half way point in the chase, Biddenham were 78-1, needing 142 off 15 over and someone to play a remarkable innings. Opener Sam Kumar did just that. Having started cautiously, he went into overdrive moving from 39 off 40 balls to a brilliant 100 off just 77 balls, hitting eight 4s and seven 6s along the way. He was eventually caught on the boundary for 106 off the bowling of Josh, who returned expensive figures but got the crucial wicket.

Number 5 Linton-Walls kept up Biddenham’s assault with some seriously clean hitting in his 15-ball 32 that included four 6s and with 4 overs to go, Biddenham were arguably favourites to pull off a stunning chase. Jack, bowling off a short run due to injury, bowled a crucial spell picking up the wicket of Linton-Walls, and Niaz came back and finished well too with Biddenham finishing 9 runs short in a brilliant game of cricket.

Eversholt’s man of the match was Josh for his 76 off 62 balls and the wicket of Kumar, but undoubtedly the overall man of the match was Biddenham’s Sam Kumar for his brutal, near-match-winning innings of 106 off 79 balls. Eversholt move to the top of the table as a result of today’s win – lets back it up in next week’s rematch against Great Brickhill.