1st XI lost to Horsley and Send by 6 wickets
Overnight rain gave the wicket at Bushy Park a lively edge for the visit of high-rollers Horsley & Send CC. With a side boasting a current international and several high-profile transfers from Division 1, the Hill would face their sternest test of the season so far.
Skipper, JNS's poor form with the coin continued as Hampton Hill were put in on a challenging surface, but a bright start from the top order, saw Hill reach 64-2 at the 15 over mark. Two wickets in the subsequent over however, started a steady loss of wickets which ended with the boys from Bushy dismissed for a round 100, Horsley's overseas pro finishing with a 5-fer.
What the Hill may lack in unfettered spending power however, they more than make up for in team spirit and energy. In a side assembled on a shoe-string budget of just £0, and packed with young, homegrown and local talent, Hill attacked from the off, bringing the Zimbabwean test batsmen to the crease at 27-1.
After a sustained period of pressure from both ends, veteran pace man Rob Fullicks picked up both Division 1 imports to reduce Horsley to 37-3. Despite only playing against Pakistan two months previous, Masvaure was tested by the Hill, surviving a very (very) close LBW shout shouldering arms to a ball that held its line from overseas amateur, James Robottom. Just as it looked as though the Hill may have missed their opportunity, Rob Fullicks produced another masterful piece of bowling, having Masvaure brilliantly caught by the skipper at slip for 21, seven runs short of his test average.
At 71-4, Hill maintained their high intensity in the search for more wickets, with Harry "the Rum Ham" Coates extracting significant turn and bounce on what continued to be a difficult surface to bat on. Unfortunately, the boys in black & white could only delay the inevitable for so long, coming second by 6 wickets.
Despite a stellar team performance in the field, the Hill will look back at the game knowing that a score of 150+ would have given the side an excellent chance of a famous victory, but things still look bright for the side pushing for promotion. The Hampton Hill wagon rolls out west to Ashford next week full of confidence as they like look to get back to winning ways.
Player of the Match: Rob Fullicks 3-17 off 9
2nd XI beat Battersea Ironsides by 7 wickets
Saturday saw the 2’s face the unenviable trip across South London to face the home of Joe Marler, the Battersea Ironsides.
After winning the toss, Hampton Hill soon had the opposition under pressure with the ‘Ginger’ attack of pace duo Olly Fallows (3-32) and Mike (Grant) Murton (4-16) reducing the brittle batting line up to 16-4.
Some outstanding fielding from the team kept the pressure on, with exceptional performances from Scott (Mr Tickle) Mitchell who secured 4 catches and a great run out from ‘Big Mac’ Adam Mackinney.
Having bowled unchanged for 20 overs and leaving the irons unfiring at 50-8, the introduction of Tom ‘Geoffrey’ Coates and
Big Mac completed the innings at 67 all out.
Woody and John Cadogan started the response well and reached 24 without loss before a dubious LBW decision saw JC depart for 10. Despite the loss of Henry Newton-Savage and Skipper Joe Porter, Jake Wood saw the club over the line with 32 no, supported by Scott Mitchell who hit two sublime drives for four off his only two balls!
So, it’s 5 from 5 for the 2s and 100 points to start the season!! Next week we host Lingfield!
Player of the Match: Mike Murton with figures of 4-16 opening the bowling.
3rd XI beat Teddington Town by 139 runs
With rain around the night before the Hill won the toss and decided to bat first.
On a testing slow track runs were hard to come by however a solid opening partnership from Will Owens and Ajmal Bhatti.
Struggling with injury Will Owens was then removed for 6 cutting the ball straight to point.
Wickets continued to fall as then Aj was removed and then Liam Weeks on a tough day to bat.
Luck however was on Adam Oliver’s side in an innings of 28 where he was dropped 4 times.
Warren Carr was the only man to make batting look easy with a fine 43 off 62 deliveries.
Good cameos from Skipper Nally, Max Goubert and Tahir Butt helped accelerate the Hill to a score of 162 off 45 overs a decent score in tough batting conditions.
The Hill got off to the perfect start when opening bowlers Tahir and George Barrett set the tone with tight bowling giving nothing away.
Tahir was on a hat trick on his way to superb figures of 5 overs 4 maidens 2-1.
Teddington Town at one point were 7 wickets down just for 8 runs in a masterclass of seam bowling to begin.
And then Warren came on and bowled fantastically picking up figures of 4-9 in a domiant display from Hampton Hill in a much-needed win.
Player of the Match: Warren Carr with 42 with the bat and figures of 4-9 with the ball.
4th XI lost to Stoke D’Abernon by 100 runs
Playing on the worst wicket skipper Jerry had seen in his whole cricket career, grassless, divots, six inch step up at one end and goalpost holes on the square HHCC to on Stoke D’Abernon. Some mixed bowling meant Hill combined taking some wickets with allowing Stoke to make 160. Only 8 tidy overs from Pete Zonneveld was the highlight.
The track and the mediocre Stoke attack should have offered no problems for Hill, but some T20 style batting and the inability to play spin meant Hill crumbled to 63 all out.
Player of the Match: Pete Zonneveld 8 overs 2-23.
5th XI lost to Star Cricket by 142 runs
Once again, a team of colts up against an adult team with some decent players. HH won the toss and put Star into bat. Excellent opening spells from Archie and Freddie kept the run rate down. Should have had more wickets, but a few chances went down. The opposition had 2 or 3 decent batsmen and they got all the runs. Some good support bowling from Josh, Mae and Will with the latter two both taking their first senior wickets, and Will, with two wickets bowled, also had 4 chances put down off his bowling. In the end Star got 225 for 6 in their 40, which was always going to be a big ask...
The initial plan was to bat through the overs which Hampton Hill nearly did. Some solid defensive batting from Freddie set a good start, but tight accurate bowling took its toll and the wickets fell regularly. In the end HH got to 83 runs with Mae and Keith having a nice partnership at the for the 8th wicket.
There were a few good performances, Archie and Freddie for very tight opening spells, Josh and Will towards the end.
Player of the Match: Mae Bush for her first senior and 16 runs with the bat.
6th XI lost to Valley End by 5 wickets
The start of the game came with a message from the groundsman to win the toss and bat first, which I proceeded to lose, that was very much a sign for the day. With the ball sticking in the pitch the wickets began to tumble, not helped by Farooq being triggered for a caught behind which every person in the park could tell came off his pad. Not sure what can be said about the batting performance, Callum Fowler walked his way to a 5-fer with several members of the team getting themselves out rather than the other way around.
Bowling and fielding was a stark contrast. Trying to get those into the game who had batted lower down the order. Arsh and Alec opened very well with the pressure of a low score to defend, wickets then started to fall minimising the damage done by me putting down their opener in a sharp chance at slip. This was then followed by a very mature and impressive spell by a young Will Exworth, who in tandem with Tom Magalhaes, built the pressure forcing a run out through attempting a risky single to Farooq, followed by a carbon copy a few overs later to myself.
With the introduction of Louis McCartney to the bowling attack, runs dried up and realistically showing his bowling is far too good for this level, had he not been required to bat at 3 he would have been in the attack much earlier. Unfortunately, these efforts were in vain due to not having enough to defend, but the spirited effort with the ball and in the field certainly made sure Valley End didn’t have the walk over they thought they would at the halfway stage.
Player of the Match: Will Exworth with some tight bowling and getting some good experience out in the middle with the bat.
Sunday Away XI beat Worcester Park by 44 runs
Runs had to be earned on a slow pitch, lush outfield and accurate Worcester Park bowling. Tom Coates played an excellent anchor role for 69 and was well supported by Robbie Coates (37), Harry Coates (24) and Manj Blah (10).
All the Hill bowlers did their part in restricting Worcester Park to 134. Key moments were excellent catches by Robbie Coates at deep mid-wicket to dismiss the two highest scoring Worcester Park batsmen. Robbie took 4/21, David 3/37 and Taz 2/22 but Harry’s 8 over spell for only 16 runs was also an important contribution.
Player of the Match: Tom Coates with an excellent 69.
Sunday Home XI beat Chessington by 7 wickets.
A youthful Hampton Hill side took on Chessington with Jake Wood opening the bowling with Adam Mackinney at the other end.
Once again both bowled superbly to begin to restrict Chessington early on, however Chessington got to 58 without the fall of a wicket before Will Aust struck with some sharp work from Sam Fullicks behind the stumps.
The Hill never let Chessington out of stretch with wickets consistently falling as Richard Longley bowled good areas as their skipper held out at long on to a smart catch from Jake Wood.
High standards in the field including a smart run out from James Michaels left Chessington 93-3.
Chessington failed to build any substantial partnerships as everyone who was given the opportunity to bowl bowled good areas and tight lines to make it difficult to accelerate the run rate.
As Joe Ayley, Oisin Shrivastava and Tom Hughes picked up wickets late on to restrict Chessington to 150 from 35 overs.
The Hill got off to the perfect start with Oisin and Jake batting superbly making it look very easy on their way to build a 104 run partnership.
Before a brilliant knock from Oisin came to an end as he was removed for 44 off 49 deliveries. Jake Wood got to his 50 with a glorious six over long on.
Adam Oliver and Tom Hughes finished the game off with 16 and 12 respectably to see the Hill home with 13 overs and 7 wickets to spare.
Player of the Match: Jake Wood with a fine 55 off 42 deliveries and bowling well up front.
Away 2nd XI lost to Peppard Stoke Row by 115 runs.
When you have strong opposition 3 down for 22 you think it might just be your day against all the odds. And that is when the two 1st XI players come to the crease and clatter 160 runs. Our guys stuck to it, led by Danny Mackinney and Tommy Rance, and, refusing to lie down, chased every ball as if their lives depended on it. 248/6 off 35 overs doesn't tell the true story of how hard HHCC fought with ball in hand and in the field but it was always going to be too much to chase down.
In the end we finished with 133/5 against some tough bowling. Player of the match Simon Burke went for 25/1 off his 5 overs and finished 56 not out at the end but huge credit to Josh Fitzpatrick for keeping him company for 10 overs
Player of the Match: Simon Burke 56*
