LITTLE MARLOW 1^ST X1 v LITTLEWICK GREEN 1^ST X1

Saturday 17^th May 2008

A fine exhibition of fast-medium swing bowling by Sohail Khalid was the catalyst for Little Marlow 1^st X1’s overwhelming home victory over Littlewick Green.

Having elected to bat the visitors made a solid start, reaching 32 before the first breakthrough. After that a regular procession to and from the pavilion was established as Khalid, moving the ball both ways, scythed his way through the top order. He took the first six wickets to fall in a 15 overs spell that cost just 27 runs.

Mansoor Hussain and skipper Arfan Sharif provided sound support, with the latter helping to ensure there was no rescue act from the tail. Wicketkeeper Anwar Mahmood continued his tidy start to the season, taking 2 catches and a stumping.

Needing 70 to win, Little Marlow made sure they weren’t thwarted by the weather by racing to their target in 10.3 overs, Ibraz Riaz to the fore with an undefeated 45.

LITTLEWICK GREEN 2^ND X1 v LITTLE MARLOW 2^ND X1

Saturday 17^th May 2008

A superlative performance by their fabulously gifted strike bowler, Quentin Falk, wasn’t quite enough to deliver victory to Little Marlow’s 2^nd X1 in their rain-reduced match at Littlewick Green.

Making a welcome return to the fold after career threatening back injury, Falk struck terror throughout the host’s 9 man batting line-up as he glided to the crease like a young Michael Holding. Repeatedly they found themselves groping at thin air as the ball jagged about off the damp surface. Complete carnage was only averted due to the fact that many of his deliveries were, quite literally, unplayable. In the face of this whirlwind Littlewick never had the remotest chance of overhauling the visitors’ 215 for 4 declared.

Falk finished with figures of 3 for 33 from 15 overs, the highlight being a stunning low return catch to remove C. Green. Captain Ged Holmes described this as ‘undoubtedly the most awe-inspiring piece of athleticism he’d ever witnessed on a cricket field, or anywhere else for that matter’. The innings closed on 131 for 6, to which Lane contributed an undefeated 34. Some of his team-mates returned ashen faced to the pavilion, as though suffering from shell shock.

Little Marlow’s innings revolved around wicketkeeper/batsman Les Ryan’s chanceless 101 not out. His commanding display would, in normal circumstances, have earned him the man-of-the-match award.

Or

A century by Les Ryan and exemplary medium-paced bowling from Quentin Falk were the highlights of Little Marlow 2^nd X1’s rain affected match at Littlewick Green.

Batting first, the visitors innings revolved around Ryan’s undefeated and chanceless 101. He shared an opening partnership of 74 with the adhesive Dave Armitage, who made 16, and one of 73 with the in-form Tim Potter, who struck 37.

Having already lost several overs to the weather, Ged Holmes declared after 41 with 215 for 4 on the board. With the benefit of hindsight, he probably wishes he’d done so earlier. Further time was lost during Littlewick’s reply, and their 9-man line-up never looked like challenging the target.

Falk, returning to the fold after a painful back injury, bowled beautifully to remove the two openers, and later took an athletic low return catch to dismiss C. Green for 24. However, it wasn’t quite enough as Lane’s 34 not out carried his side to safety.

The innings closed on 131 for 6, Falk’s final analysis being 3 for 33 from 15 well directed, probing overs.

BEACONSFIELD UNDER 15s v LITTLE MARLOW ACADEMY

Wednesday 14^th May 2008

LITTLE MARLOW ACADEMY v FLACKWELL HEATH UNDER 15s

Sunday 18^th May 2008

Little Marlow Academy’s two latest matches followed a now familiar course – moments of individual achievement unable to compensate for general inconsistency and the disadvantage of playing against older opponents. The unavailability of senior players Sahil Dogra and Jack Goss was a further handicap.

However, Zain Gill continued to impress with his canny medium pace and Andrew St Maur backed up an excellent, over-the-shoulder catch at Beaconsfield with a couple of perfect seaming deliveries to remove Flackwell’s Piasko and Saunders.

Danny Craker also enjoyed success with the ball and ten-year-old twins, Adam and Haseeb Ali, showed themselves to be certain stars in the near future. Billy Hunter continued to set an example in the field that many would do well to follow.