Saturday 11^th October 2008

 

Mallorca (138-4, 29.3 overs, G Tompkins 3-39) beat Lilley (131 all out, Ashby 42) by 6 wickets

 

Having been spanked by the Lilley touring Saturday side last year, it was no real surprise to see the Mallorcan Saturday XI this year packed with the Island’s best cricketing talent.  Muckleberg returned and with Steve Bell and James Bodsworth in their ranks, the home side looked a crack batting outfit on paper.

 

Lilley’s original plans were thrown into mild disarray when scheduled opening batsman Tim Perry failed to make it to the ground having been on a hardcore bender the night before which culminated in a 6am return to the apartments. 

 

Lilley lost the toss, but were put into bat by the Mallorcans.  James Ashby rejoined Brad Tompkins at the top of a Lilley order which, on paper at least, looked full of runs.  Regrettably in this case, cricket isn’t played on paper, even in Magaluf.

 

Despite the change in openers, Lilley started assuredly, with Ashby and Tompkins taking few risks early on in the light of some decent bowling from Bodsworth and the highly dubious action of Qamar-Shazad.  The latter’s action was so suspect in fact that the home umpire was prompted to speak with the standing end umpire Dave Carman about the legality of the balls being thrown.  Er, bowled.

 

The opening pair began finding the boundary with some regularity and were easing along at four an over as the mid-way drinks break approached.  Third change bowler Worthington was the man to bring the home side a change of luck, as he managed to find a delivery which shot low to Ashby and hit the touring skipper’s off stump.  By this time he had reached 42 and the partnership was worth 86 for the first wicket.  With GT joining Brad and drinks taken at 88-1 from 20 overs, Lilley looked set fair to register a plus 200 score at a canter.

 

But life at Lilley is never so simple.  The wheels do occasionally fall off the batting wagon, but seldom do they do so in such spectacular fashion…

 

Lilley’s 2008 run machine was the next casualty, adjudged leg before by the home umpire for just 3.  Brad Tompkins appeared to lose concentration and tamely patted the ball back to Sunny Khan for 39, Lilley now 95-3.

 

Three wickets became four when Donovan Tompkins was caught off Khan’s gentle spin and disaster struck when one of last year’s batting heroes Andy Flannagan charged and ultimately missed a ball from Khan, stumped hopelessly short for just 2.

 

100-5 became 102-6 moments later when Dan Mills and Tony Allbones both played their part in a pantomime piece of running which resulted in the 17 year old being run out for nought.  Allbones struck a lovely four through the covers before making a complete pigs ear of a straight ball from Bodsworth, the ball evading the Kempstonians tentative prod and cannoning into the middle stump.

 

107-7 became 109-8 when Karl Berry aimed a filthy smear at a straight ball and was clean bowled for an 7^th time in the 2008 season and Craig Paddington performed his usual revolving door batting exercise, chopping on to his stumps for nought to give Sunny Khan his fourth wicket.  Lilley had not so much slumped as had a full blown stroke, now 114-9 with ten overs left.  The devastating collapse had seen the tourists lose nine wickets for 28 runs in 12 overs.

 

The brothers Carman made Lilley’s last pairing, and there were more than a few ‘oohs’ and ‘aahhs’ as Mik played and missed early on – remember, the younger Carman hadn’t to this point registered a single run in 2008.

 

But to the 30 strong touring party’s delight, the smuttiest man in cricket (after Dave) belted a boundary four to get off the mark for the campaign.  Seemingly buoyed by the monkey being well and truly booted off his back, he then struck the shot of the innings, a picture perfect cover drive for four, as the Carmans added some vital late runs.  Mik was eventually bowled for 11, Dave 5 not out, as Lilley were all out for 131 – probably still 100 shy of where they should have been!

 

Lilley desperately needed a good start, and Allbones had Heaton trapped leg before for 14, Mallorca 31-1.  But try as they might, the luck just wasn’t with the visitors.  The ball dropped agonisingly between fielders, close leg before decisions didn’t go their way and the home side batted well.

 

Paddington left the field in extraordinary circumstances mid way through the innings, screaming “I need a pooh” as he ran towards the pavilion.  Sadly, that was the closest call Lilley had for some time, as Muckleberg and Qamar-Shazad piled on 74 for the 2^nd wicket.

 

The latter reached 52 before edging GT through to Mik Carman behind the stumps and the South African paceman added John Barratt, caught by brother Donovan for 10 and Cook, caught again by Carman for nought, as Lilley had a late rally.  With Bell and Bodsworth still to bat however, the game was lost, and Mallorca duly brought up the win soon after, with Muckleberg finishing unbeaten on 46, the home side victors by 6 wickets.

 

 

 

Sunday 12^th October 2008

 

Lilley (178 all out, Flannagan 65) beat Mallorca (145 all out, M Carman 4-13) by 33 runs

 

Lilley needed a win to finish the season on a high and ensure that the series finished one apiece for the third consecutive year.  Following last years successful Sunday of love, Captain Flannagan was again deployed for the second game.  Steve Mcardle came into the side, with Tim Perry flying home having not played a game and Dave Carman stepping aside from the Lilley XI to umpire.

 

Skipper Flan decided to open up with himself and Donovan Tompkins, having won the toss and elected to bat.  The experiment didn’t pay off however as Tompkins was bowled by veteran dobber Jack Scholes for a duck.  Ashby (21) joined Flannagan at the crease and the pair looked at ease as they compiled a steady 29 for the second wicket, before the regular skipper miscued a ball towards mid on which he thought was carrying, only to see it drop short and be run out, ambling half way down the track!

 

Karl Berry hit his first ball for four, but could only muster 8 before being bowled for an 8^th time in 2008!  ‘Aquabona’ Allbones managed only four before being trapped leg before by Hughes, but the fall of his wicket brought GT to the crease to partner Flannagan with Lilley 71-4.

 

Having both failed on the Saturday, the pair seemed intent on righting the wrong!  Both hit the ball sweetly to all parts, as Lilley compiled their first meaningful partnership since the opening wicket the day before.  Flannagan brought up his richly deserved half century shortly before GT was dismissed, caught and bowled for 32, but the partnership was worth a useful 67.

 

Déjà vu almost reared it’s ugly head as Flannagan was given out leg before soon after for 65 and Brad Tompkins (2) and Steve Mcardle (Golden) followed in consecutive balls soon after to leave Lilley on 143-8.

 

Mik Carman earned a hasty promotion in light of the domino effect batting and joined Dan Mills in stabalising the Lilley effort.  The pair added what would be a match winning 35 runs before the Feral Youth Mills was trapped leg before by youngster Dan Rogers for 13.

 

Screech Paddington was left with a run-less tour once again (save the ones in trap 2 from Saturday), as he could only watch from the other end as Mik Carman was bowled by Clemence for 16, leaving Lilley 178 all out in the 40^th over.

 

With Lilley light on bowling, the plan was for Mik Carman to keep wicket for the first 20 overs before swapping with Ashby at the midway point to provide another bowling option.  This meant Ashby took the new ball with GT and had an instant effect, trapping Hughes leg before for 1.

 

GT bowled Frazer soon after for 10, leaving Mallorca 12-2.  Despite a brief rally, Cook holed out for 17 to Brad Tompkins off Ashby and Sunny Khan’s ‘Nottinghamshire Premier League’ credentials were left in tatters when he too holed out for 1 off Ashby’s bowling, Don Tompkins bagging the catch.  Ashby completed his spell of 3-31 from 8 overs.

 

Allbones meanwhile replaced GT and struck with a trademark skiddy delivery which dismissed George leg before for 12 and at drinks, Lilley were well placed with the home side 80 for 5.  The break brought the switch of keepers, but with Allbones bowling out soon after, Lilley’s bowling options looked limited.

 

Mik Carman was introduced into the attack, but Jack Scholes and Dowland, who brought up his half century, were looking solid.  The pair had added 38 when Carman’s drifter fooled Scholes and the opposition captain was trapped lbw for 10.  Nalty lasted a few deliveries before losing patience against Carman’s tweakers.  He charged at a Carman leg break, missed with his hefty swipe and was duly stumped by stand in ‘keeper Ashby, who almost destroyed the stumps with his over zealous glove work.

 

The major break through came soon after when the impressive Dowland (64) got some harsh luck against Carman, a ball down the leg side deflecting off the batsman’s arm and onto leg stump, dislodging the bail en route.  Lilley were now in the box seats as the game approached it’s conclusion.

 

Carman made it seven wickets in the game for the two Lilley keepers when he had Clemence caught by Donovan Tompkins for 4 and the game was wrapped up when Tompkins himself – who had bowled very impressive spells from both the Mountain End and the Pavilion end – induced an edge from left hander Martin which Ashby gratefully pouched behind the stumps, Mallorca all out for 145, 33 runs short of victory.  Carman finished with an impressive 4 for 14 from his 4 overs from the Mountain End.

 

And so to the presentations after the game, with Ashby winning the opposition’s man of the match for the Saturday and Flannagan getting the award for the Sunday.  Pennants were exchanged, thanks and then an impromptu set from Andy Flannagan on his acoustic guitar, featuring various vocalists from the Lilley ranks.  The sun set on the MCG and many a glass of Mahou was downed in this most unusual of cricket settings.  Cricket may not be played on paper, but it is on sand and plastic in Mallorca!

 

Lilley (211-6, 40 overs, G Tompkins 55) beat Offley & Stopsley (196-9, 40 overs, Shah 3-28) by 15 runs

 

Lilley turned in a fine display to banish the memories of last week's damp squib against Rosslyn, end the domestic season on a high and once again level the Mansfield/Towndrow series with Offley/Stopsley 1 apiece.

 

Ashby's lucky coin syndrome once again struck, with Rich Barker incorrectly calling and Lilley electing to bat - although the visitors would have chosen to bowl in any case.  Ashby rejoined Brad Tompkins at the top of the order, but was back in the hutch without troubling the scorers in the third over when umpire Allbones adjudged that Mo Chaudry's log hop was dropping down onto the stumps.

 

Brad was joined by Gareth Tompkins, Lilley's outstanding batsman once again this season and the South Africans began building the innings cautiously.  Offley gave Lilley a major let off when Counsel bungled a relatively simple catch that would have dismissed GT in single figures and the Lilley number three cashed in with nine fours and two sixes in a fine half century, brought up with a mighty six over deep square leg.  

 

GT perished for 55 sadly when he was bowled by Counsel and Brad followed moments later when he was caught of the loopy spin of Barker for 33, the pair having put on 92 for the third wicket.  As solid as the partnership was, with fifteen overs to go Lilley, at 97-3, had to accelerate.  Accelerate they did in the shape of the rejuvanated Tim Perry and Andy Flannagan, with Barker's off spin coming in for particular punishment.  The Irishman's breezy 25 was ended when he was caught by Darren Lunney, just, as the ball thudded into his chest at deep square leg, but a useful 55 had been added in six and a bit overs.

 

Perry continued his fine recent form with some cracking strokes, finally showing the sort of form in the latter stages of the season that we know he is capable of.  His innings came to an end on 41, bowled by rotund paceman Matty Freeman, but Lilley still had plenty of destructive capability in their ranks in Majid Shah and a hastily promoted Taz Qureshi.  Shah in particular was in prime touch, hitting a quick fire unbeaten 25.  Qureshi lost his wicket for the cause, caught by youngster Ward off Lunney's spin and despite another quick promotion which saw Mik Carman thrust into action, he still managed to end up unbeaten on nought and STILL without a 2008 run to his name!!  Lilley closed out on 211-6 from their 40 overs, a competitive total on what was a pretty good wicket.

 

After a delicious tea, action resumed.  Offley made their intentions clear from the start as the burly Barker beefed Ashby's second delivery back over his head for a straight six.  The visitors were in no mood to hang around, clearly wanting to get above the run rate required=2 0early on.  Barker's knock was to be brief however as he mis-read a GT slower ball and skewed his shot to Tim Perry at cover to leave Offley 39 for 1.

 

Mo Chaudry got a huge let off on nought when he feathered the South African quickie through to brother Brad, but the keeper couldn't hang on to the regulation chance.  Chaudry and Steve Bexfield then set about the Lilley bowling attack, particularly the out of sorts Taz Qureshi who struggled again for his length.  Andy Flannagan provided a steady five overs to compliment Tim Perry's outstanding spell of off spin from the Graveyard End, but Lilley could not find a breakthrough despite wrestling back the run rate initiative.  With Offley 157-1 chasing 212 to win, the odds were stacked heavily against the home side.

 

Lilley made a huge breakthrough when the fast scoring Chaudry was brilliantly caught and bowled by 'Magic' Majid Shah for 61, before a moment of controversy sparked the run chase into life.  Bexfield had smashed the ball into the stumps and began setting off on a run when umpire Tony Allbones bent down and fielded the ball instinctively, resulting in the visiting Captain throwing one of his World famous Elton John-esque tantrums.  Unable to clear his head and the red mist, he aimed a horrible swipe at the returning Taz Qureshi and was duly bowled for 64.

 

Lilley suddenly had two new batsmen in, the light was beginning to fade and th e run rate was beginning to creep up.  Left hander Lunney was next to go, playing across the line to Shah and succeeding only in edging the ball to Ashby at point.  Latino played all around a Qureshi long hop to give Taz his career best season's wicket haul of 26.  The dangerous Nathan Brodie needed someone to stay with him to have any chance of finding the required runs, but Freeman had other ideas.  The portly bowler aimed a swipe at Ashby, managing only to bottom edge the ball into the ground and through to Brad Tompkins.  Usain Bolt would have struggled to make the single, so quite who he thought he was batting with, we'll never know...but off he shot, running with a zest and enthusiasm last seen when he first saw a plate of Jaffa Cakes on the tea table.  Brad Tompkins kept his head and ran Freeman out by some distance, leaving Offley on 183-6.  Shah finished his spell by bowling Counsel for nought to finish with 3 for 28 from six overs and Ashby left Offley with a mountain to climb by bowling Bridgeland for nought in a tight penultimate over.  Offley needed nigh on a miracle in the final over, a miracle which became more unlikely when GT castled Ward for nothing.  

 

Despite Brodie's best efforts, he and youngster Page couldn't get Offley over the line and Lilley were winners by 15 runs, leveling the Mansfield/Towndrow trophy for the third successive season at 1 all.  Credit must go to Lilley's fielders, who were outstanding to a man.

 

 

Rosslyn (173-2) beat Lilley (170 all out, B Tompkins 44) by eight wickets

 

Lilley's season and promotion hopes fizzled out with a dismal display at the Geoff Banks-Smith, with unfancied Rosslyn consigning Lilley to their first defeat at the ground for ten years - and another season in division 2 with it.

 

Everything started well for the home side, with the usual chaotic organisation from the visitors from Barnet meaning the game started twenty minutes late.  James Ashby's outrageous luck with the coin continued and Lilley were batting on a glorious September's afternoon on a pretty good looking deck.

 

Brad Tompkins had a new opening partner in the league for the first time since brother Gareth dropped down to three early last year, with last week's hero Tim Perry continuing at the top of the order.  The pair began well, punishing anything off line, although it became apparent that the outfield was going to be slugishly slow with a lot of dead grass still laying on the surface.  The pair had reached 33 in the 10th over when Perry was caught at backward point off the bowling of Mani for 16.

 

Gareth Tompkins had an ideal chance to boost his credentials and indeed average as he joined brother Brad at the crease.  The younger brother Gareth had started in circumspect fashion, but was beginning to up the tempo when a tragic single was called through by Brad, only for a direct hit to leave GT some distance short of making his ground.  At 69-2, it was a key moment.

 

Ashby joined Brad Tompkins, the regular opening pair, and it appeared Lilley were ready to put their foot down as the skipper hit a four and then big six over deep mid wicket to take Lilley to 81-2 at the drinks break.  The introduction of Dilip Patel was too much for Ashby to resist after the break however and a rank long hop was tamely hoiked straight down the throat of Verrill in the deep.

 

Tompkins finally found a partner who would stay with him in the middle order in Majid Shah, who savaged the seamers.  The pair had added 53 when Dilip Patel returned to the attack from the Graveyard end in a spell which would change the game.  Shah (36) was bowled by Patel, playing through his shot too early and Brad Tompkins went soon after , leg before for 44 - again!

 

Dan Mills became Patel's second lbw victim for 0 and Donovan Tompkins was bowled for 7 by opening bowler Verrill to leave Lilley 151-7.  Things went from bad to worse for the home side as Taz Qureshi was bowled playing over the top of a yorker and Mik Carman continued his run-less season with another duck.  Karl Berry (13) and Craig Paddington went some way to repairing the damage with some late order runs, including Berry's first maximum of the season, but the former was bowled by Patel to leave Lilley 170 all out, with the aging spinner finishing with 6 for 29 from his 8 overs.

 

Lilley needed early wickets and got a good start when Tompkins bowled Patel round his legs with the Rosslyn score on just 11.  Verrill was fortunate to survive some early reckless shots, but began to look comfortable, particularly against the wild offerings of Taz Qureshi, who simply couldn't find his length.  Ashby and Perry came into the attack and the run rate was pegged back, with Perry finding some sharp turn.  Batsman Menon was causing a pantomime with some circus-like running, interspersed with a leg injury which he embarrassingly was carried off with having collapsed for a third time, falling to the ground like a sniper had taken him out with a pot shot.  Needless to say, he returned later..

 

Lilley just couldn't get a break, run out chances a plenty being missed, catches not quite falling to fielders and inside edges evading everything.  It was one of those days.

 

Verrill stumbled across his stumps and was trapped leg before by Shah for 57, but it only increased the speed of defeat for Lilley.  Menon returned with a runner and Qureshi returned for Lilley with an even more erratic spell as the home team faced up to life in Division 2 again next season.  Lilley tried Tompkins, Perry and Ashby again, but Menon stood firm, hitting the skipper back over his head for four to finish 61 not out and guide Rosslyn home by eight wickets.  Unsurprisingly, he didn't need to be carried off at the end...

 

So the end of another league season.  Rosslyn thoroughly deserved the win, but Lilley will be gutted that the visitors barely had to break sweat for it.  Still - it is a season's work.  The table never lies and ultimately it will be the early season defeats which have hurt Lilley's chances of promotion, not this, their first defeat since June 29th.

 

There may well be a sting in the tail and not before time - next week sees the must win last match of the UK season to level the Mansfield-Towndrow Trophy with Offley/Stopsley.

Lilley (208-5, Perry 76 not out, G Tompkins 59 not out) drew with Bovingdon (120-9)

Finally the sun reappeared in this most moist of British summers, meaning Lilley's trip to pretty Bovingdon could go ahead yesterday. Lilley made the trip with just ten men with the late withdrawals of Rich Kendall and Donovan Tompkins, with veteran seamer Steve Perry standing in to fill one gap.

James Ashby continued his remarkable form with the coin - he has still only lost two tosses this year - and elected to bat on a wicket which was still damp in places. Lilley opened with Brad Tompkins and Tim Perry, the pair which started against Flamstead in Lilley's last friendly. The pair looked comfortable against the new ball and had successfully negotiated the first seven overs when Tompkins was caught for 3. Craig Paddington enjoyed a lofty promotion, signalling his intent early on as he blazed his first ball over mid off for two. Sadly, that was it for Paddy's run scoring day as he was bowled shortly after by Woodward. Taz Qureshi's constant moaning about batting up the order paid off, but he too only managed 2, edging his second ball behind to leave Lilley 21 for 3.

Order was restored in the Lilley innings with the arrival of Majid Shah. Perry continued, resolute and compact at one end with Shah dramatically boosting the Lilley run rate with three consecutive fours to get off the mark. 'Magic' had raced to a quickfire 38 when he was bowled by Gatehouse's first delivery, which pitched and rolled onto the stumps. Harsh luck as Shah was timing the ball superbly. Ashby joined Perry at the crease and the pair put on 34 before Ashby miscued a nasty swipe at the ball and was caught.

Vice Captain Gareth Tompkins joined Perry at the wicket and despite an early let off when a leading edge fell in between several fielders, he started hitting the boundary regularly. Perry meanwhile continued serenely to his second half century of the season and innings punctuated with several classical straight drives. Not one to share or indeed concede the limelight, Tompkins hit some blistering strokes and registered his own half century in double quick time, finishing 59 not out.

Perry's knock was a remarkable feat of concentration, batting for 2 and three quarter hours in this time game to finish on 76 not out. Lilley had posted 208-5 in their allotted time, which looked a decent total.

Lilley started well with the ball, with Taz Qureshi bagging the first wicket thanks to a smart diving catch by GT at slip, made all the more remarkable by the fact that he was half way through shouting 'That's a better length Taz' when he realised the ball had been nicked towards him! Ashby spilled a diving effort at gulley and Brad Tompkins fluffed a regulation edge as Taz endured some bad luck with the ball for once! The skipper at the other end picked up a couple of wickets when he found Simpson's edge through to BT and then had Blackburn caught by Tim Perry at cover with his knee-injury enforced two yard run up dobbers.

Qureshi bowled Sneiders for nought, the home side 24 for 4. Bovingdon bounced back with their first partnership of note, Stickland and Hazleton adding 33 before smart glove work from Brad Tompkins saw the former stumped of Majid Shah - who had rediscovered his bowling! Steve Perry was tried but couldn't find the consistency of line and length that he enjoyed in his last outing for Lilley, so Lilley turned to GT for wickets. The South African duly responded with two quick victims, both clean bowled, as Cornish and Gatehouse struggled with his pace.

Tim Perry came into the attack at the other end and victory looked in sight when he picked up the wickets of Hazleton for 34, caught and bowled and Woodward leg before for 0 to leave Bovingdon 108-9 with a couple of overs to go. Rowe and Roberts stood firm however to ensure the draw, with four Lilley bowlers (Ashby 2-14, Qureshi 2-26, Tompkins 2-10 and Tim Perry 2-12) bagging two wickets apiece.

A winning draw, although ten man Lilley were disappointed at the end in not being able to finish the hosts off. All eyes now towards next week's last league game of the season, the clash at home against Rosslyn of Barnet.

Lilley (128 all out, 40 overs, G Tompkins 64), Datchworth (70-4, 18.2 overs, Ashby 3-24) MATCH ABANDONED - RAIN - 2 POINTS EACH

The eagerly anticipated clash between 2nd place Lilley and 3rd place Datchworth ended in disappointment all round today, with heavy rain finally destroying any hope of a result with almost 3/4 of the game played.

Lilley won the toss and chose to bat at pretty Datchworth, which somehow had avoided the monsoon like weather engulfing much of the south east. A picture perfect ground maybe, but not a picture perfect start from Lilley, who lost skipper Ashby to a Pybus yorker with the third ball of the day.

Brad and Gareth Tompkins saw out the early overs and looked comfortable as they took Lilley to drinks without any further loss. GT brought up his fifty despite almost running himself out on 49 after some pantomime running.

Brad Tompkins was bowled by Saunders for 19 to leave Lilley 81 for 2, but Perry looked his organised best and Lilley continued at a relatively pedestrian rate, thanks to some tight home bowling.

GT's stay at the crease was ended when the South African was stumped by Luke Bennett for 64 off Saunders, a wicket which started not so much of a collapse but a demolition job on the batting order of the visitors.

102-2 became, embarrassingly, 128 all out in 14 chaotic overs. Destroyer-in-chief was 16 year old Reece Pybus, who found a succession of Lilley batsmen willing to play all around his slower ball, with Shah, Mills, Horner and Clarke mustering a combined total of 3 runs. At the other end, home skipper Tom Bennett was enjoying equally good fortune, with the injured Perry (24) - who strained a thigh taking a quick run - and Berry (0) - who cannot buy a run this season - joining the 'clean bowled' club.

If the collapse was circus-like, then the main event would have put the big top to shame! Lilley, with Carman and Paddington at the crease, needed only to see out the final ball of the last over to deny Datchworth what may have been a vital bowling point. Despite having negotiated the previous few overs with ease, the pair contrived to stop...start...stop...stop...and eventually run out Dave Carman, handing what should have been a gift wrapped bonus point to the home side, having done the hard work.

So Lilley had mustered just 128 all out, which looked at least fifty light and probably then some. Fortunately, the tea was very nice indeed!

A slightly down beat Lilley took to the field post-tea with a pretty big task, namely to bowl out Datchworth with their 2 quicks available plus Tim 'thigh strain' Perry, Majid 'I've forgotten how to bowl' Shah and Philo 'I haven't even played for 14 months' Clarke! The thunder rumbled in the distance however and dark clouds above suggested we may be about to get extremely moist!

Ashby and Tompkins started with a good deal of zip and a hint of swing against Datchworth Saturday 1st Captain Wells an prolific Luke Bennett. The pair negotiated the early exchanges, but the partnership was broken when Ashby bowled Bennett coming off his two step short run to make it 18 for 1.

GT joined in the fun when he was just two quick for Tom Bennett, Lilley's nemesis at the reverse fixture this season, bowling him for nought.

19 for 2 became 21 for 3 when Lilley got a major bonus, Wells edging an Ashby low full toss onto his off stump. The skipper bagged his third when he trapped Shad Kamali dead in front for 3, Datchworth now just 36 for 4. Ashby bowled out, to finish with 3 for 24 from his eight.

Rain began to fall as Tim Perry and Philo Clarke joined the attack and the ball turned into a bar of soap as it was soaked by the outfield. Heavy rain caused the umpires to offer the fielding team and batsmen the opportunity to leave the field, however both sides were keen on a result and stayed on, hoping for improvement.

They got the opposite and with 18.2 overs bowled, the players left the field of play for what would prove to be the final time in the match. Bennett and Ashby shook hands ten minutes and bucket loads of rain later, with the game abandoned, both sides receiving 2 points. The result was particularly agonising for 3rd place Datchworth, who not only saw their bonus point vanish, but were also just ten balls away from a technical win. At 20 overs, the game would have officially been 'a match', with any postponment after that time meaning run rate decided the game. Datchworth were five runs ahead of where they needed to be to win it, had those extra ten balls been bowled.

But rain had the final say in this most damp of seasons, meaning the sides are separated by just 1 point with the finishing line in sight. Things should be clearer when Great Gaddesden and Letchworth's results are in.

Lilley 173-8 (Shah 28, Perry 28) beat Flamstead C.C 156-8 (GT 3-24) by 17 runs.

Lilley (85-4, 21.5 overs, G Tompkins 30*) beat Graveley (81 all out, 28.5 overs, Shah 6-24) by 6 wickets

Lilley registered another five points, another league double and a huge win over Graveley despite spilling five catches in the process!

James Ashby continued his remarkable run of form with the coin, having lost just one toss this year, by calling correctly again. A damp track and a new ball were carrot enough to bowl first, against the general trend this year.

Lilley could have had a breakthrough with the sixth ball of the innings, when Master tamely patted back a ball from Ashby, only for the Captain to fail in his bid to snare the return catch as it died on him.

At the other end the unusually out of sorts Gareth Tompkins struggled into the wind and failed to make an impact, despite a couple of decent leg before shouts.

A double change of bowling brought a change of luck for Lilley however, as Taz Qureshi and Majid Shah came on at either end. Qureshi it was who made the breakthrough, Murphy spooning a short ball straight to Ashby at mid wicket for 8. Master (17) fell to Majid Shah's first ball, hacking across the line out deep to the safe hands of GT. Dangerman Bracey was bowled next ball by Shah and when J Logan and Wraight were cleaned up by the Lilley all rounder, Majic had bagged 4 for 10 in four overs.

Shah then inexplicably caught the yips, bowling a series of random beamers and long hops for one frightening over! Fortunately he got back on the ball and soon after had Noddy Logan caught by Qureshi for 12 and Williams caught by Ashby for 2 to finish with 6 for 24 from 8 eventful overs.

Qureshi picked up a second, this time Hobson leg before, to finish his eight with 2 for 18.

GT and Ashby came back into the attack to remove the tail and that they did, GT bowling Baynes for 4 and Ashby bowling Hornet for nought.

Graveley had capitulated to 81 all out off just 28.5 overs.

The early finish meant Lilley had an additional 11 overs to reach 82, but also a tricky 10 over period before tea to negotiate.

Both openers were toast before tea, Brad Tompkins leg before for 7 and Ashby caught at cover for 13. Gareth Tompkins and Dan Mills saw Lilley safely to sandwiches and cakes at 28 for 2.

Mills' promising start was undone when he was caught and bowled after the break for 8 and Karl Berry also got a start before falling in the same fashion for the same score.

Don Tompkins joined his brother Gareth and looked in fine fettle, reaching an unbeaten 8 as GT tucked in to anything loose. Tompkins Junior reached 30 not out with the match winning four off Steve Brown, Lilley home by six wickets with a whopping 29 overs and 1 ball remaining!
 

Lilley (175-6, 40 overs, J Ashby 53) beat Rosslyn (117 all out, 34 overs, T Qureshi 4-42) by 58 runs

A trip back to the scene of last years hottest day, Tudor Park, brought much of the same weather and the same result for a Lilley team who made it four wins in four during July with a comprehensive win against Rosslyn.

James Ashby's outrageously good luck with the coin this season continued and Lilley again found themselves batting first in sweltering heat. The Rosslyn side was a very different one to that which Lilley did the double over last season and opening bowler Verrill was impressive with the new ball. He picked up the first wicket when Brad Tompkins tamely patted the ball back for a return catch, bringing together one of last week's century partnerships, Ashby and Gareth Tompkins.

Hero of last week GT was subdued, possibly because of the bug he had carried over the weekend but probably because Ashby hogged the strike for the next 15 overs! The skipper was brutal on anything loose and brought up his half century with Lilley's team score still in the seventies. Ashby was bowled soon after though, a victim of fatigue and Tim Perry was at the crease, Lilley 77 for 2.

GT had moved unspectacularly to 25 without much trouble when he received a nasty 1-2 from Dilep Patel, the first ball fizzing past his ear holes off a length, only to see the ball soon after shoot along the ground from the same length, trapping him plum in front.

Majid Shah was bowled for 4 attempting a wild hack across the line and Donovan Tompkins was adjudged leg before having been struck on the back leg by Patel, but Lilley picked up their scoring when Dan Mills joined Perry at the crease. Initially cautious, Mills played some good aggressive shots to compliment the in-form Perry as Lilley accelerated to 175 for 6 at the end of 40 overs, Perry being caught hitting out for the cause late on, with Mills on a Lilley best 27 not out and Phil Horner 2 not out.

The total was a similar one to that which Lilley managed last year at this ground and although defendable, Lilley needed discipline in the field.

The opening exchanges of the Rosslyn innings were like chalk and cheese. GT should have had opposition Captain Patel first ball, a sharp sort of a length ball fizzed through, took the glove, but Brad Tompkins spilled the chance down the leg side. At the other end, Taz Qureshi offered up a real feast for the batsmen, long hops and wide balls aplenty as Verrill in particular cashed in.

Patel was first out, first change bowler Ashby duping the batsman with his slower ball which he mistimed to mid off. Karl Berry did magnificently well to initially parry the ball in the air as he jumped before catching and dropping the ball about 15 times before it eventually settled in his hands on the ground. It would be the start of one of Lilley's sharpest fielding displays in recent times.

Perry replaced Qureshi and Verrill was gone a few balls later, aiming a strange stroke at the off spinner and being pinned infront. Then it was danger time for Lilley, as Manny Hussain and Stephens came together and nearly frustrated the visitors.

Hussain in particular enjoyed some unbelievable luck as he and the limpet like Stephens put on 53 for the third wicket. Ashby missed a tumbling return catch off Hussain and GT missed a sharp effort at slip off Majid Shah's bowling, but Lilley would find the cutting edge in the form of the returning Qureshi.

Having been banished to the outfield after a first spell which was less than impressive, Qureshi returned and immediately removed Hussain via an inside edge onto his stumps for 35. Magic Majid Shah then joined in the wicket taking fun, first Bafna hitting him straight to the safe, if unorthodox, hands of Berry at mid off and then bowling Gupta for nought soon after.

Stephens had batted for what seemed like an eternity for 13 when he finally was removed by Qureshi, leg before, and Gravina managed to carve his first ball, a trademark Qureshi long hop, straight to Gareth Tompkins at point who took a sharp catch.

Tim Perry has been setting the World standard for cover fielding this year and when Siner drove Qureshi in his next over, Perry pulled off a simply stunning one handed catch at close cover which will take some beating in the catch of the season competition. Qureshi finished with 4 for 42. He goes for a few, but he does seem to have that wicket taking knack!

Majid Shah completed a fine spell by bowling Aiken to finish with 3 for 15 from 8 miserly overs and Gareth Tompkins came back to end the innings, bowling P Verrill to leave Rosslyn 117 all out, Lilly winners by 58 runs.
 

Lilley (327-5, G Tompkins 155, T Perry 59*) beat Bramfield (142 all out, Ashby 3-16) by 185 runs

Gareth Tompkins hit his second score of 150+ in two seasons to help Lilley post a club record 327 for 5 on the Geoff Banks-Smith Memorial Cricket Ground yesterday.

Lilley won the toss and chose to bat on a grassy but flat looking deck. It was a familiar story soon after sadly, this time Brad Tompkins NOT scoring runs at his favourite ground, although he didn't agree he has nicked the ball which brought about his demise.

It turned out to be a South African master stroke however..

Gareth Tompkins should have been sent packing having faced just two balls. Having driven the ball flat to long off, he received a major slice of luck when the fielder missed the chance and the ball went for six. It was a costly blunder....154 runs to be exact. Tompkins and Ashby were ruthless with anything off line, with the South African bring up his half century before drinks.

Ashby fell six short of his 50, finding a fine pair of hands on the cover boundary, but it did nothing to stem the Lilley flow of runs. Tim Perry was certainly 'due one' and he looked solid in the opening exchanges as he pushed singles to allow the increasingly confident Tompkins the strike.

There were a few murmurs around the ground as GT seemed to clam up after drinks having requested his score be put on display, anxious not to miss out on a ton after coming so close at Codicote. They needn't have worried, as Tompkins was in no mood to lose the limelight, breezing serenely to his second Lilley ton with lots of time remaining.

And then, it all went a bit silly.

GT enjoys passing the hundred mark, but enjoys even more the freedom to swing at anything and everything the oppo can throw at him. Bramfield plumped for slow off break bowler Haverty, up the hill, to stem the flow, despite the fact he had been savaged for 22 in his previous two overs. The following over went:

4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6.

Shame about the four really. The busiest men in the park for a while were Karl Berry and James Ashby, charged with hunting down the ball in the adjacent fields and woods.

All good things come to an end and GT fell short of breaking his own club record for highest score, but managed to post the second highest with 155. And he's still only 21 remember...

"Pheew", the Bramfield collective sighed. I imagine the sight of Majid Shah swaggering towards the crease didn't frighten them too much, having only seen a fairly scratchy cameo in the earlier fixture this year, but they soon will have realised they had only scratched the surface of Lilley's erratic but on it's day explosive middle order.

Shah was in no mood to mess around, with GT and Perry having added 147 for the third wicket, so predictably tee'd off! 36 runs off next to no balls, including 3 sixes and 3 fours, was a nice side order, but nothing was going to upstage the South African today.

Don Tompkins was bowled first ball - I imagine GT took family bragging rights today - but Perry continued almost unnoticed at the other end, punching a long over due but very classy half century, hitting six fours in his 57 ball unbeaten 59.

Lilley finished on an imposing club record score of 327 for 5 from their 40 overs...one Bramfield fielder said "I think you've got 200 too many for us...".

Such a mighty score to chase down meant two things: Bramfield were not going to hang about too long and Lilley had the opportunity to share the bowling around and rest some of the usual suspects. GT was given a well deserved rest, left to graze in the outfield for once.

Ashby and Qureshi opened up and both soon bagged a wicket, Ashby trapping Cove leg before and Qureshi grabbing the wicket of Moore, caught well by Berry despite the best efforts of others to put him off!

Rich Kendall was given a burst from the Graveyard End and despite a few too many short of a length early on, he picked up a wicket when he forced left hander Haverty to mis-hit to Don Tompkins at mid off.

Kendall bagged a second when he castled Porter for nought and finished with 2-26 from his 6 overs. Qureshi bowled through for 1 for 28, meaning a double change of Shah and perhaps not so predictably Paddington from the Graveyard End. Paddington claims to have developed a 'Slider', although it appeared the only thing sliding was the standard as he sent down a ball which probably would have been wide on the next strip. Opposition Captain Hill followed it though, taking three steps across before belting it straight at Majid Shah at point. Screech bags a league wicket!

An 18 ball second over boshed any hopes of a repeat of Eaton Bray, but you suspect the Jeans Way Ripper was happy with 1 for 17.

Dan Mills bowled a lively 3 over burst before Ashby and Perry came into the attack. The skipper clean bowled Neate and Roe to finish with 3 for 16 before Perry (2-19) wrapped up proceedings by bowling Junior Neate and the stand out Bramfield performer Doherty for 37, to end Bramfield's misery, 142 all out.
 

Lilley (153 all out, 35.1 overs, G Tompkins 38) beat Therfield & Kelshall (90 all out, 26.3 overs, Qureshi 4-17)by 63 runs

Lilley continued their unbeaten run at the newly re-opened Geoff Banks-Smith Memorial Cricket Ground with another fine win over Therfield & Kelshall.

Lilley won the toss and batted on a wicket which had seen heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours, leaving the surface still soft to touch.

Things started in the worst possible fashion, Ashby being brilliantly caught at first slip off the third ball of the day. Brad and Gareth Tompkins set about the repair work and put on 70 for the second wicket in difficult conditions. The ball continued to move around and the wet surface meant the odd ball was keeping low.

GT fell first, more to the wicket than the bowler, as he bottom edged a low bouncer onto his stumps for 38. Brad was joined by older brother Donovan at the crease and the pair worked the ball round very well in the middle stages of the innings. The duo had put on 52 when Donovan was bowled by off spinner Viner for 13.

Majid Shah made the conditions look all too easy as he got off the mark with a huge six over mid wicket and a four soon after, but he came a cropper trying one mighty shot too many, spooning the ball high to Viner, who made no mistake off his own bowling.

The innings turned on it's head, as Lilley slipped from 139-3 to 143-9 in an astonishing collapse sparked by the line an length of John King, who took 4 for nought in six balls. Berry was bowled round his legs, Eyres cleaned up through the gate, Qureshi trapped leg before for nought and Brad Tompkins finally castled for 37 in a fine spell from the medium pacer.

Screech Paddington and Stew Collinson were left to try and push Lilley on to a decent total and they looked untroubled as they put on ten for the final wicket before Paddington was stumped off opening bowler Morris. The Dragon was left unbeaten on 8 at the other end in his first innings back in the UK for Lilley for nigh on three years.

153 all out in 35.1 overs meant T&K had to score 154 in 44 overs to win the match.

Things didn't start well for the visitors, Leary being clean bowled by Tompkins and Ashby picking up the wickets of Douglas and Harris for 8 and 10 to leave Therfield on 33-3.

The pair of Bradfield and Viner survived some early scares to settle the Therfield ship, but the dismissal of the opposition Captain shortly before drinks - bowled by an amazing double bouncer from Qureshi - changed the shape of the game.

Majid Shah picked up the wicket of King, brilliantly caught by the safe hands of Mik Carman at long off and soon added Hardman, GT taking a tumbling catch coming round from mid off. At the other end, Qureshi continued to plug away and could do no wrong with the ball. Indeed, even his worst balls were picking up wickets. Viner, who had blazed his way to 36, including two big sixes off Ashby, miscued a long hop high in the air and unfortunately for him, straight to bucket hands Carman. Morris holed out to Eyres off Qureshi and when he made it four wickets in four overs with a caught and bowled that looped high in the air, Qureshi had thoughts of taking a five for.

That plan was scuppered when Magic Majid Shah bowled Tollson for 2 to finish the game, Therfield 90 all out with Shah taking 3-22 and Qureshi nabbing 4-17.
 

Lilley (79-5, G Tompkins 21) beat Caddington (78 all out, 18.4 overs, Ashby 5-11) by 5 wickets