LITTLE MARLOW v COOKHAM DEAN

Saturday 12^th April 2008

Little Marlow Cricket Club got their season under way with a home local derby versus Cookham Dean last Saturday. The 40 overs per side game was preceded by a minute’s silence for Mark d’Ardenne, one of the visitors’ most popular members, who’d died in a tragic motorbike accident a week earlier.

Batting first, Cookham made good progress against variable bowling on a slow but true pitch. Nick Patel led the way with a fine 93 before being well held by Andy Findlay at wide mid-off. Sadly his catch was very much an exception to the norm; a series of lapses costing Little Marlow dear. Nevertheless, until the closing few overs, it seemed the target would be kept within manageable proportions.

I. Butt and Christian Austin had other ideas. Hitting out strongly, they completely changed the complexion of the match. An unbroken partnership ended with Butt on 44 and Austin 31 as Cookham closed on 255 for 6.

The hosts never looked like mounting a serious challenge after that, although several batsmen took the opportunity to dust off some winter cobwebs. Skipper Mike Bath made an attractive half-century, and was then run out when the bowler deflected the ball on to the non-striker’s stumps. That was backed up by Anwar Mahmood’s 19, Findlay’s 25 not out and Farooq Hussain’s well paced and undefeated 40.

Little Marlow fell 69 short of their requirement, at 187 for 6, to give Cookham Dean a deserved, comfortable victory.

LITTLE MARLOW v NEW C.C.

Sunday 13^th April 2008

Little Marlow’s Sunday team was spared ignominious defeat when rain forced an early conclusion to their home game against New C.C.

Tidy bowling, supported by sound fielding, held the visitors in check and they were unable to fully build upon solid foundations provided by openers K. Patel (69) and N. Patel (37). Nigel Matthews removed both, and left arm wrist spinner Andy West (3-27) ran through most of the middle order, before the innings’ enforced closure at 191 for 7 after 40 overs.

The host’s reply never really left the starting blocks. Lively medium-pacer M. Patel bowled Mark Bradley, Ben Falk and Farooq Hussain, none of who bothered the scorers as light rain gradually freshened the pitch. Matthews (15) fought hard but then succumbed to the murky light that enveloped the ground.

A merciful halt was called shortly afterwards with the total on a wholly inadequate 29 for 5 after 21 overs.