Lilley Cricket Club 2010 Match Reports

 

April 2010

Offley & Stopsley (191-6, D Carman 4-22, T Reilly 102*) beat Lilley (190-5, Mills 49, 40 Overs) by four wickets

Lilley and Offley conspired to break the usual showcase of incompetence that is the season curtain raiser yesterday, producing a remarkably entertaining game which ebbed and flowed and could have gone either way right to the end.

The home side were indebted once again to former St Josephs all rounder Tom Reilly, who produced his sixth Offley century to help ease them over the line.

Having won the toss, Lilley elected to bat on a wicket which was very green but safe in the knowledge that Offley have failed to produce a wicket which bounces above ankle height ever.  Brad Tompkins looked in good order and had eased his way to 14 before being adjudged leg before of the bowling of Reilly, although most watching on thought the ball struck the South African a little high.

The two Dannys, McLaughlin and Mills, set about building the Lilley total, with McLaughlin in particular savage on anything off line or length.  Mills played with such calm assurance and style that non playing Offley folk though he had been drafted in as a ‘ringer’.  McLaughlin departed for 41, miscuing Reilly to mid off attempting to smear his to the boundary, but his departure brought stylish left hander Neil Hanley to the crease.  The Sussex-born batsman punched Reilly to the boundary early on with the shot of the day to signal his intentions.

Lilley hit a bit of a wall in the middle overs as Ward and Chaudry pegged the visitors back and made a plus 200 score look unlikely.  Youngster Ward got a big breakthrough when he bowled Hanley for 35 and when Chaudry ripped out the wicket of Mills for a well made 49, Lilley were forced to bat out the remaining overs with fresh batsmen at the wicket.  Debutante Gaz Goddard became Ward’s second wicket for 11 as Lilley eventually posted 191 for 5 from their 40 overs.

The Offley reply started in limp fashion as James Ashby trapped Mo Chaudry plum in front in the first over.  The run chase went from bad to worse when McLaughlin bowled Wardley, the right hander managing to offer no stroke to a swinging ball to leave Offley 9-2.

Dave Carman replaced McLaughlin at the clubhouse end and immediately dropped on line with his leg breaks despite not having bowled since mid 2009.  He completely confused Lunney, who was bowled on 19 before winning a leg before shout against Rich Barker, who had reached 27.  Karl Berry meanwhile was bowling with some gusto at the other end, showing glimpses of the pace we have seen during the nets this winter.  Despite the chaos at the other end, Tom Reilly continued serenely and untroubled as he passed fifty.

Dave Carman continued weaving a magic web of leg spin, with Nathan Brodie prodding unconvincingly and being bowled, matched only by Williams curious stroke against the same bowler – with the same result.  How Carman missed out on a five for is a miracle, as Chris Austin played successively agonisingly close prods inside the line of the ball.

The game was clear now, Reilly, in and set, was to score the runs and Austin was to take on his traditional Doctor Block role.  For Lilley, it was a simple story – take one wicket and you expose the remaining three batsmen – Ward, Cooper and Cutts.  With Reilly mauling the Lilley savage, Stew Collinson, Ashby decided to go for broke and brought himself back on with Offley requiring just 30 to win.  Reilly continued playing his shots, but crucially miscued an attempted drive straight to mid on, where Dave Carman was patrolling.  Unfortunately the spinner bungled the chance, losing it in the background with the sun setting.  The ball went down and with it Lilley’s chances.

Reilly registered his century and Lilley were beaten by four wickets, the remainder of the Offley batting line up mustering just 56 runs between them.  Lilley, despite a valiant effort, were beaten and in fairness the lack of bowling options at their disposal was exposed by a fine batsman in fine touch.

 

LILLEY (194 all out, 38.5 overs, Perry 60) vs Breachwood Green - MATCH ABANDONED, RAIN

 

 
For the second time in two visits, a tea time deluge at Breachwood Green scuppered Lilley's hopes of victory yesterday as rain robbed both sides of a fascinating second half to an intriguingly balanced game.

 
The home side won the toss and decided to bowl, which Lilley would have almost certainly done themselves.  Lilley had three changes from the side that lost to Tom Reilly CC last week, with Tim Perry and Ahmad Malik stepping in for Gaz Goddard and Fletcher Callaghan, whilst a last minute oversleep from Dave Carman gave Khurrum Khan the chance to play.

 
The opening exchanges were farcical, as the Breachwood bowlers sent down a succession of wides - which eventually second top scored with 29.  Tompkins and McLaughlin seemed to be easing on serenely until Macca miscued to midwicket on 17 when looking well set.  Neil Hanley, who had been licking his lips on the sidelines at the prospect of facing the attack, was in trouble straight away as a strained buttock left him needing a runner and struggling to play most shots.  He adopted the policy of playing ultra aggressive, sensing his time at the crease may be limited, and duly edged Haroon to slip on 16.

 
Brad Tompkins also looked untroubled until he was snared by veteran trundler Nick Merchant.  The tall all rounder extracted considerable bounce of a ridge on the wicket, although he didn't need it to snare the wicket of Ashby (12), as the Captain tamely patted the ball to cover having been caught off a no-ball the over before.

 
Vice Captain Tim Perry got a huge slice of luck when Merchant produced a snorter which took the batsman's glove, but the Breachwood Green 'keeper bungled the chance at the second attempt.

 
Dan Mills failed to reproduce last weeks batting master class, spooning the ball to midwicket when on 3 and Lilley Savage, Stew Collinson, was bowled by ageing tweaker Jon Hall for 1.  Perry meanwhile continued in imperious touch, mixing high class strokes with some outrageous luck en route to Lilley's first half century of the year.  He made 60 before being caught.

 
Kendall (4) and Berry (5) both came and went in the latter stages, but there was still time for Ahmad Malik and Khurrum Khan to put on a highly entertaining stand for the last wicket, with Ahmad's strokeplay particularly impressive.  They took Lilley to 194 when Malik was bowled, a challenging total on a lively track.

 
But then  the rains came...

Lilley (137-7, 35 overs, J Ashby 40) beat Therfield & Kelshall (136 all out, 34.4 overs, T Perry 3-26, K Berry 3-29) by 3 wickets

 

Lilley produced a gritty performance to grind out a result against a plucky Therfield side this weekend in overcast, chilly conditions.

 

Lilley Captain James Ashby won the toss and elected to take the new ball on a damp track which in theory would ease as it dried in a keen breeze.  That decision looked well justified early on when the skipper produced a rare straight one in an unusually erratic opening spell which trapped Whiley right in front of middle peg for 1.

 

Dan McLaughlin was far the more impressive of the two opening bowlers and he got his just rewards when he lured the drive-happy Morris into one too many strokes and straight into the safe hands of Tim Perry at cover.  Ashby made way for the quicker Khurrum Khan and he soon snared the shot shy opposition Captain, Bradfield, as he feathered behind to Brad Tompkins without scoring.

 

Therfield briefly rallied, as Staley and John King produced a partnership of some fine clean hitting and some outrageous luck, with King smearing a couple of hefty sixes.  The fireworks were soon over though, Perry luring King (20) into one biff too many and Dan Mills holding a fine pouch at long on and when Khan smashed through Staley’s (39) defences, Therfield were 81-5.

 

81-5 became 85-7 as Perry (3-26) had Ellis well caught by Kendall at deep mid wicket and soon after sharp glove work from Tompkins ended youngster Harper’s stay.

 

Karl Berry showed tremendous improvement in the winter nets with the ball to the extent that the Lilley Captain has used him in extended spells in both bowling outings thus far.  The inevitable rust was there, but when he gets the Yorkers firing and the pace up, Berry is quite a handful.  He bowled Harper Senior with one which kept a tad low, but the batsman was camped on the back foot thanks to the bowlers earlier perseverance.  Ward was removed with a beautiful middle stump Yorker and by the time Berry had wrapped up the Therfield innings with Kendall taking an excellent catch – given the bowler himself was haring towards the fielder with reckless abandon – Berry had bagged 3-29 in his burst and Therfield were all out for 136 in 34.4 overs.

 

The absence of Lilley’s best batter, Neil Hanley, was eased somewhat by the return of Brett Hanson at three in a solid looking top four.  But any hopes Lilley had of a serene run chase were quickly checked when Brad Tompkins attempted to walk to Point before playing off his legs, inevitably being bowled.  Hanson was bowled by impressive tall medium pacer Morris for just 3 and when McLaughlin (18) was controversially adjudged to be leg before off aging seamer Whitby, Lilley were 29-3.

 

That became 33-4 when Perry was bowled by a full toss from Ellis and Lilley’s hopes of a comfortable win were seriously threatened.

 

So many times last season Lilley would have rolled over and said ‘tickle my belly’, but this is a different outfit to 12 months ago.  Ashby joined Mills at the crease and the pair knew they had to do most of the damage to take Lilley to the brink.  Chances were few and far between, but when they came they were either spilled or fell safely.  They added 64 for the fourth wicket before Mills (27) patted a simple return catch to Ellis- a disappointing end to what was another fine start from Mills, who again showed flashes of the high class batsman he can become.

 

At 97-5, Lilley still had some work to do, but any fears that the Lilley lower order may be undercooked were soon put to bed by the ‘Lilley Savage’, Stew Collinson.  He smote his second ball to the wide long on boundary to signal his intention, but found a running equal in the similarly unfit and knee hampered Ashby, as the pair set about edging Lilley to victory.

 

They were just 17 runs away when Ashby (40) inexplicably spooned to cover, but in Rich Kendall, Lilley had a man that would throw the wall up against anything and allow The Dragon to throw his shapes at the other end.

 

That he duly did, and in an attempt to murder the winning runs through mid wicket he was bowled for 23, but what a 23 in the context of the game.

 

Karl Berry, earlier slayer of ferrets, was left to pick up the winning single in the gloom of a cloudy May evening and Lilley were winners by three wickets, taking all available 5 points.

 

It was a well fought battle in difficult conditions and a friendly and useful opponent – on to Roslyn.

Lilley (162-4, 31.4 overs, McLaughlin 44) vs Rosslyn - Match Abandoned, Rain.  2 points each

Lilley were once again mugged by foul weather when well set against Rosslyn in Barnet yesterday afternoon.

Having lost the toss, Lilley were asked to bat first on what was initially a fairly pleasant if cloudy afternoon at Tudor Park.  The home bowlers seemed to struggle to find any sort of line or rhythm, straying wide on numerous occasions in the opening exchanges.  McLaughlin and Tompkins both looked in relative ease, although it was apparent that McLaughlin in particular wasn't at his fluent best, save a lovely cover drive for four off Shaid.

Tompkins (8) it was though who was first to go, having himself hit a fine cover drive to the boundary only to tamely clip bustling Ghafor's medium pace straight to motor-mouthed Mani Hussain, who took a smart catch at mid wicket.

Brett Hanson looked untroubled in his brief stay at the crease, but inexplicably attempted to whip wiley Gravina's straight ball through mid wicket and was bowled for just 4, leaving Lilley 48-2.

Tim Perry joined McLaughlin at the crease, who was beginning to show some of the fine touch we've seen him in thus far this season.  Perry himself began to look more at ease as he stroked a couple of boundaries, before Shaid got his lines right and surprised the right hander with a straight one, bowled for 14 leaving Lilley 86-3.

Lilley's form horses with the bat were both at the crease, McLaughlin the leading run scorer for the season thus far and Dan Mills, the 19 year old batsman who has started to turn considerable promise into some real results this season.  Macca (44) looked set for a half century when Shaheed held on to a return chance off his own bowling, Lilley 106-4.

The dismissal brought last weeks match winning partners together, as skipper Ashby joined Mills at the crease.  By this time, murky skies had given way to persistent drizzle and bowlers and fielders alike were struggling with the conditions.  Ashby survived an early scare when he was dropped at deep mid wicket, but his previous success against the North London club meant that they went ultra defensive straight away and provided numerous opportunities to run twos and three.  The pair had added a quick fire unbroken 56 partnership in less than seven overs and were looking in fine fettle when the rains came to save the Rosslyn attack.  The teams took tea, but despite the occasional break, there were no signs of the rain letting up and the match was abandoned at 5pm.  The decision was vindicated shortly afterwards when monsoon like rain fell for twenty minutes, as the two clubs retreated to the safety of the Hadley Hotel.

It was an incredibly disappointing break for the visitors, at 162-4 with over eight overs left and a stack of big hitting batters to come and at a stage where the pair at the crease were rattling along at nearly ten an over.  It was another good steady performance though and more proof that this batting unit is gelling nicely.  Bramfield up next.

 

Lilley (270-3, 40 overs, T Perry 103*, D McLaughlin 100) beat Bramfield (193-9, 40 Overs, K Khan 3-26) by 77 runs

Dan Mclaughlin and Tim Perry produced an astonishing partnership of 179 for the third wicket as Bramfield were left to rue their decision to insert Lilley having won the toss at scorching Bramfield yesterday.

McLaughlin was keen to continue where he left off the previous day, having crashed an unbeaten century for his Saturday side and soon looked in fluid touch despite a frankly horrendous looking track.  Brad Tompkins (0) got a ball which popped a little and he could only balloon the ball to mid wicket and Lilley were rocking at 30-2 soon after when Dan Mills aimed a disgusting smear at a Heath long hop and was duly caught for 7.  At that stage, Bramfield will have been eyeing a repeat of the Lilley collapse here 2 years ago, which saw Lilley crumble after a bright start.

But that would be the home side's last success for 23 overs, as McLaughlin - suffering with a bad back - and Perry - who was involved in a car crash en route to the ground - defying their apparent struggles to make batting look easy.  'Macca' was savage early on and nailed four big 6s and twelve 4s in his century, his first for Lilley, before he tiredly limped down the wicket, missed one and was stumped for 100.

Lilley were 209-3 at this stage, with Perry serenely easing his way to 69 not out.  Ashby attempted to smash the cover off the ball every delivery, but it was Perry who was now seeing the ball like a football and picking the gaps with ease.  He registered his first century as Lilley added another 61 runs in the final six overs, Ashby somehow surviving several chance to finish unbeaten on 18 and Perry - who even managed a reverse sweep for good measure - unbeaten on 103, Lilley 270 for 3 after 40 overs.

Lilley were confident the runs were on the board, but it was a question of whether they could bowl the home side out to grab the bonus point.  They got a great start when Khurrum Khan skidded one past Saunders' attempted pull to bowl him for 3, but Hill and Heath then combined to frustrate Lilley.  Khan was unlucky not to pick up opposition Captain Hill when the diminutive right hand edged to second slip, but McLaughlin spilled a regulation chance.

Hill rode his luck and top edged Perry to Karl Berry at backward square leg, but his usually safe hands let him down as the ball came out of the sun and the chance went down.  Hill was eventually dismissed for 18 though, when Perry spun one past his tame prod and trapped him leg before.

Former Hitchin Town man Heath was joined by Welshman Jones, and the pair began scoring at a healthy rate as Lilley rotated the bowling in the heat.  Heath survived a couple of sharp chances, Ashby spilling a diving effort at point  from an unconvincing drive and Perry fluffed one off his own bowling when the left hander drove firmly back at his off spin.

The partnership was beginning to look menacing for Lilley before a moment of fielding brilliance from Dan Mills, when the youngster swooped on a ball eased into midwicket, picked up one handed and threw down the stumps from twenty yards with a direct hit to run out Jones.

Khan was introduced back into the attack and struck instantly, bowling the dangerous Heath for 61 with a fine yorker.  Fellow left-hander Porter suffered the same fate when the 20 year old seamer speared another yorker through his defences to uproot leg stump and Lilley smelt blood.

All rounder Tom Cardwell on debut bagged his first club wicket when Cove spooned the ball to Ashby in the covers, and when the Captain came back into the attack and castled Tansley and Neate, Lilley were just two wickets away from a bonus point.

Stew Collinson came on to try and prize the 9th wicket pair apart and he duly bowled Hill Junior round his legs for 2 to leave Lilley on the brink.  Sadly, a mis-field in the last over meant youngster Ryan Saunders was spared the strike and veteran Davis was able to block out six Ashby deliveries to deny Lilley the bonus point.

Still, 4 points and the unbeaten league streak continues.

LILLEY 9-1, 2.2 overs, Offley & Stopsley 168-8, 40 overs, K Khan 2-26 - MATCH ABANDONED, RAIN

Rain once again robbed cricket of a fascinatingly poised game this weekend, as Lilley's run chase against near neighbours Offley & Stopsley was curtailed by torrential rain on the Beds/Herts border.

On the notoriously lively top track of the Lilley square, home skipper James Ashby will count it as a very good toss to win with a healthy covering of low cloud and warm muggy conditions sure to aid swing bowling.  Unsurprisingly Offley were invited to bat, sending out the left/right hand combination of Darren Lunny and Richie Barker to face the new ball. 

Barker (4) was obviously playing in different conditions, as he aimed what was at best an optimistic drive at an Ashby inswinger, with the predictable outcome of Barker's middle peg being bent back.  If that was a curious stroke, then Steve Bexfield's soon after was frankly bizarre.  Ahmad Malik, back in the side following a trip overseas, had been swinging the ball prodigiously early on, a fact obviously not conveyed to Bexfield (1) as he lined up to play the ball gun barrel straight and was so caught out by Malik's inswing that he was struck on the back leg offering no stroke, giving the umpire the simplest of decisions.   Malik finished with fine figures of 8 overs 4 maidens, 1 wicket for 13 runs.

Offley needed stability and it came in predictable shape and size in Tom Reilly, their premier batter.  He punched the ball convincingly around straight away, something fellow left hander Lunney was struggling to do as he wafted outside off stump with frightening regularity.  He eventually wafted once too often outside off stump, apparently clearly edging the ball through to Brad Tompkins off Khurrum Khan on 17.  Umpire Freeman's finger was raised, but Lunney clearly felt he hadn't touched the ball - although quite what else made the sound of leather on willow as the ball passed the bat, we can only guess.  No matter, it sparked the standard moment of Offley infighting, back biting and ultimately the fastest umpire change since the Cople Argus umpire stormed off the field in 2006 because Craig Paddington's bowling was too shit to watch.

Khan, bowling with fine pace and accuracy, kept the prolific Reilly quiet, whilst forcing Chamberlain to spoon to Dan Mills at Gully to finish with 2 for 26 from eight hostile overs.  When Tim Perry removed Nathan Brodie, clean bowled for 2, Offley really were on the ropes and staring at a pitiful score.  Reilly continued about his task though, passing fifty and found an able partner in the portly Freeman.  Reilly resisted some Kamikaze calling from his Junior partner and the much maligned medium pacer began to find some batting rhythm, moving to 23 before telegraphing a big hit somewhat by calling out to his Captain before the ball that he intend to close his eyes and have a swing, unsurprisingly getting bowled by McLaughlin.  Reilly guided the Offley total to 168-6, finishing 82 not out, surviving a late bungled drop by Cardwell off Ashby to boost the average.

The gloom was set in now, with spots of rain starting to descend.  McLaughlin got a fine lifting delivery which he could only glove through to 'keeper Sale off Freeman, but that would be Offley's only success in the 2.2 overs managed before a monsoon dropped it's filthy load on the ground, sending players scurrying to the cover of the unfinished pavilion.  Offley felt that they were in the box seats and Lilley certainly fancied chasing the target down - but unfortunately, Mother Nature won the day again.

 

June 2010

Bragbury (181-5, 40 overs, J. Ashby 2-25) beat Lilley (114 all out, 30.3 overs, D. McLaughlin 69) by 67 runs

Lilley returned to Weston Cricket Ground, site of one of their most infamous batting collapses in the last 115 years, determined to keep the unbeaten league streak going against league new boys Bragbury.  What they got instead was an equally incompetent stab at being a cricket team as that fateful day back in 2007, when chasing 50 to win they slipped to 21-9 before winning by one wicket.  This time round the batting was a similarly sorry display, save Dan McLaughlin's imperious 69 and Andy Burgess' Boycott-esque 3 in a partnership of 66.

Lilley won the toss and predictably elected to field in muggy, overcast conditions.  Ahmad Malik and Khurrum Khan took the new ball unusually, as skipper James Ashby's gammy knee prevented him from his usual duties.  Despite finding some swing early on, neither man could find the penetration to break the first wicket pairing of Davies and Wagstaff.  Ashby brought himself on first change to try and arrest the run rate and he struck in his fourth over, clean bowling the drive happy Davies with an in-ducker for 43.  Dan Sampson became the Lilley skipper's second victim soon after, aiming a wild smear and being bowled for nought and when off spinner Perry bowled Wafstaff for 28, Lilley had dragged the home side back to 100-3.

Dave Carman shelled a difficult chance off his own bowling before picking up the wickets of Bates for 54 and Palmer for 18 as the home side posted 181-5 in 40 overs, a target that ought to have been very gettable.  That theory relied on Lilley's thinner than usual batting line up getting big performances from the top six at least.

And there the theory ended.  Ashby, back opening in the absence of regular opener Brad Tompkins, is always susceptible to the early swinging ball and that was underlined as he staggered lethargically into a Sampson in swinger and being trapped leg before for 1.  Dan Mills was bowled by Braine for nought and when Tim Perry departed, bowled by the same bowler for just 4, Lilley were enduring a hellish start.  Hellish became disastrous moments later when Steve Eyres' tactic of trying to hit every ball out of the ground backfired as he was bowled for 4, leaving the visitors on 12-4 with newlywed Andy Burgess coming to the crease having not batted for four years.

As it was, Burgess produced something the rest of the top order failed to muster - a straight bat and a calm head.  Burgess' role was very much one of survival whilst Dan McLaughlin played in his own bubble at the other end.  'Macca' continued his superb 2010 form, belting the ball to all parts as he made batting look far easier than his colleagues at the other end.

He passed fifty once again, as he and Burgess put on 66 for the fifth wicket - with Burgess contributing 3 until he was smartly caught at short cover off the bowling of Stevenage Saturday 1st XI opening bowler Davies.  The tall man was considerably quicker than anything else on show during the afternoon and despite belting him for one four, Stew Collinson departed soon after, caught attempting another meaty blast.

The miserable procession continued as Ahmad spooned the ball straight in the air, caught for 5.  McLaughlin's brilliant defiance was ended soon after, bowled by Davies for a superb 69 and Karl Berry (1) and Dave Carman (first ball duck) were soon sent packing to leave Lilley 114 all out and 67 runs short of Bragbury's total. 

So, batting frailties this week, Macca apart, despite which Lilley were just 67 runs short.  Oh for a couple more batsmen.  On to Bulldog.

Lilley (311-8, 40 overs, B. Tompkins 84, A. Malik 55*, D. McLaughlin 54) beat Baldock (174 all out, 37.5 overs, D. McLaughlin 4-43) by 137 runs

An extraordinary days cricket at Lilley ended with the home side taking a maximum five points and registering the highest score of the season, as well as passing some individual milestones en route.

A gruesome sight greeted the Lilley team as they arrived to put the finishing touches to the strip, with the carcass of a pigeon strewn across the bowlers run up, apparently eaten by some sort of buzzard.  Or killer pied wagtail.  Nonetheless, Stew 'The Birdman' Collinson, gathered the remains for some sort of science project and the game got the green light, after a few scares over errant bails and the crease marker going AWOL...

Lilley it was who won the toss and elected to bat on a track still bearing the scars of the latest jaunty weed killing adventure of Phil Kirchin.

A few popped and nibbled early on with the new ball, as they do, but Lilley's opening pair of McLaughlin and Brad Tompkins dealt with the opening salvo with aplomb.  They rode through a banquet of wides and other assorted sundries whilst feasting on the bad ball as Lilley rocketed along at nearly 6 an over,  The pair had added an impressive 110 for the first wicket when 'Grooner' McLaughlin spooned straight to deep mid wicket for a well made 54 - but with over 20 overs left, he will feel he missed a big 'un.

Brett Hanson came and went for a tidy 19 before holing out and James Ashby's stay at the crease lasted just a few balls before he tried to belt spinner Crawford, only to be castled.  Dan Mills showed glimpses of his undoubted class before frustratingly being bowled around his legs again for 19 and Stew Collinson chose to 'celebrate' his duck soon after by beating the crap out of any inanimate object he could find...

Khurrum Khan made a slightly fortuitous 19, including two top edged sixes, before he was brilliantly caught by Mongston off his own bowling.  Tom Cardwell was adjudged leg before for a nought and Baldock thought they could smell blood.

Ahmad Malik, dropped down the order after his petulant dismissal the week before, showed exactly the sort of power hitting Lilley needed late on.  When he entered the fray, Lilley were 242 for 8 and by the time he left just 4 overs later, Ahmad had blazed an amazing unbeaten 55 and Lilley were 311-8 at 40 overs.

Malik's astonishing salvo was off just 15 balls as he attempted to smash everything out of the park.  The knock took Lilley's imposing total to an imperious one, and a total which Baldock were unlikely to hunt down.

To do so, they needed a flier, and Mongston attempted to give them that.  Sadly for the visitors, his attempts to smash the cover off every ball ended soon, as Berry held on to a catch at long off from Ashby's (2-23) bowling.  Cooley soon followed, having topped a Malik ball into his face and smashing his two front teeth.  He attempted the same at the other end, but Berry again clung on to a good catch at long off from the skipper's bowling.

Khurrum Khan bowled the pesky Benson for 12 and then Lilley made a double change as Karl Berry and Dan McLaughlin came into the attack.  Berry bowled a tidy line and McLaughlin looked to exploit the favourable up-the-hill conditions.  The Northamptonshire trundler nipped two wickets out, Gentle offering the simplest of catches to Ashby at slip then Eyres clinging on to a steepler at long on. 

Berry then got his just rewards, the stand in vice captain bowling a slower ball having just tipped off skipper Ashby that it may be coming his way - and the batsman duly obliging and smashing it down the skippers throat.  McLaughlin then bowled Batty for 2 to finish with 4-43, which could have so easily been five but for Ashby shelling a difficult chance at first slip and the bowler himself overstepping when claiming a caught and bowled.

Watts and Crawford looked in for the draw until Stevie Eyres got past Crawford's defences to bowl him for 7 .  Khurrum Khan came on for his first spell from the Graveyard end and duly picked up the last wicket, bowling Robin Watts for 22, to leave Baldock 174 all out, with Lilley taking all 5 points.

Good team performance!

LILLEY 194 ALL OUT, 38.2 OVERS (B Tompkins 45), beat WELWYN GARDEN CITY 105 ALL OUT, 23.5 OVERS (A MALIK 5-8) BY 89 RUNS

Lilley continued their fine winning streak in an unusual game at the Geoff Banks-Smith Cricket Ground, which was halted at 3pm for England's pitiful defeat against Germany in the World Cup!

With an earlier start agreed to allow players to catch the action in the Lilley Arms over tea, James Ashby won the toss and elected to bat on a curious looking track, still baring the scars of Phil Kirchin's latest moss killing escapade. 

Dan McLaughlin set out his stall early, losing the first match ball with a big six up the hill, but that was to be his only success with the bat for the day, as he perished trying to repeat the stroke soon after.  Ashby joined Tompkins at the crease and the pair were building a solid partnership when Ashby reached for a wide full toss and succeeded only in spooning it to cover for 25.

The introduction of spinner Bridgewater halted Lilley's progress and he wrenched out the wicket of Tim Perry, caught and bowled, when he was well set on 23.  Dan Mills too made a start, before he edged a big turner from Bridgewater into the safe hands of young wicketkeeper Wells on 15 to leave Lilley 122-5.

Meanwhile at the other end Brad Tompkins continued in his typically unflustered style and was only removed when he was on the end of a harsh leg before decision on 45 as he eased towards back to back half centuries.  Ahmad Malik, fresh off the back of his outrageous knock last week, could only muster 1 as the wily Bridgewater outsmarted him and had him caught by Wren.

Karl Berry showed once again that he has returned to form with the bat and he struck some meaty blows in a brisk 27 and he found an able partner in Khurrum Khan, who's late 33 boosted Lilley's score.  Both batsmen fell in the latter stages, but there was still time for Lilley's first female league player, Sam Burgess, to scurry a leg bye before Steve Perry was castled to leave Lilley's ten men 194 all out.

With all 21 men and women completely deflated after England's dismal display, the players trudged back to the ground to continue the game.  195 to win was always likely to be a tough total on a wicket which had offered variable bounce throughout the first innings and with Lilley's quicker and more experienced bowlers on a wearing pitch, that was only likely to make Welwyn's very young side struggle.

Lilley took the unusual step of opening the bowling with off spinner Tim Perry in the hope of exposing some of the prodigious turn seen in the first innings, but it was Ahmad Malik's left arm seam that proved the telling early weapon.  Ashby deployed a short leg despite having one fielder less and the gamble paid dividends straight away as Welwyn's batsmen struggled to cope with the extra bounce Lilley's wicket offered.

Openers Wells (1) and Patel (6) both popped chances to Mills at short leg, who snaffled them with glee and when Perry had Wren caught at slip by Ashby and Malik added Cope (0), caught McLaughlin and Sumper (0), caught and bowled, Welwyn were in dire straits.  Things went from bad to worse as they slipped to 20 for 6 when Khan took a good diving catch off Perry (2-30).

Hayward blitzed three fours before he became Ahmad Malik's fifth wicket, his first 5 bagger for the club - he finished with 5 for 8 from 8 fine overs.

Vine and Bridgewater added some late order power hitting off Khurrum Khan and Karl Berry to give the visitors score and air of respectability, but it was Khan who had the last laugh, bagging two late wickets before Ashby removed Bridgewater with his fifth ball to dismiss WGC for 105, Lilley winning by 89 runs.

STEVENAGE (239-1, 30.4 OVERS) beat LILLEY (238-4, 40 OVERS, D MCLAUGHLIN 75, T PERRY 53) by 9 wickets

This was always likely to be a David vs Goliath affair, with Stevenage having already trounced everyone in Division 2 with teams with various numbers of Saturday first team players in their NHL line up.

As it was, Lilley themselves had a few different faces in the line up, with the return of Donovan Tompkins, Tom Cardwell back and Sam Burgess retaining her place in the side.

With Brad Tompkins celebrating getting older, Dan Mills was promoted to open with Dan McLaughlin.  The pair looked at ease in the opening salvos and looked untroubled in puting on 53 for the first wicket until Mills was trapped leg before by trundler Fisher for 14.  Ashby (15) too looked untroubled as Lilley progressed, but he edged an away swinger from Reid to Carr at first slip, who took a fine diving catch.

Tim Perry joined Macca at the crease and Lilley continued on their merry way.  McLaughlin (75) was in by now and seeing it like a football, despatching several boundaries en route.  He seemed destined for his second ton of the campaign until he edged Joslin to Carr at slip and the first team wicketkeeper again took a brilliant catch.

Perry stepped up a gear and he and Tom Cardwell tried to add some late innings impetus to proceedings.  Perry passed fifty before being bowled as he tried to make room and dupe the bowler with fancy footwork.

Cardwell (36 not out) and Don Tompkins (13 not out) provided a late flurry as Lilley closed on 238-4 from 40 overs, a good total in most scenarios but perhaps 30 or 40 light against a strong Stevenage outfit at home.

Lilley needed early wickets, but despite some tight stuff early on, Brown and Chapman survived everything Lilley threw at them with relative ease.  Ashby shuffled the bowlers looking for a breakthrough and the introduction of bustling medium pacer Tom Cardwell provided it.  Chapman (49) glanced one off his legs to square leg where Sam Burgess held on to a comfortable catch.

That was to be Lilley's last success with the ball, although they should have snared former Essex 2s batsman Brown for ten.  He miscued a drive off Karl 'Snarl' Berry to Khurrum Khan at deep mid on, but the fast bowler could only bungle the chance.  Brown went on to belt an unbeaten 66 in treble quick time, including 21 off one over, as Lilley were soundly thumped by nine wickets.

LILLEY 125-4 (15.3 OVERS, R. KNIGHT 71) beat ROSSLYN 124 ALL OUT (30.3 OVERS, A MALIK 3-19) BY SIX WICKETS

Lilley bounced back to winning ways to maintain the hold on second position in the North Herts League Divison 2 courtesy of a comprehensive win against North Londoners Rosslyn yesterday.

Acting Captain Tim Perry lost the toss and Lilley were asked to field, but with half the opposition still not at the ground there were real hopes if Lilley could take early wickets.

That they duly got as Ahmad Malik and Khurrum Khan continued their fine form with the ball in 2010.  Malik bagged the wicket of dangerman Verrill with his first ball to the young right hander, as the batsman inexplicably aimed a filthy smear as an inswinging delivery, succeeding only in spooning high back to the bowler.  The visitors were in real bother soon after when Clement feathered a Malik ball through to Brad Tompkins without troubling the scorers and when Khan produced one of the great yorkers to uproot Shahid's middle stump, Rosslyn had lurched to 5 for 3.

Fortunately for the North Londonders, the cavalry arrived in the form of the rest of their team.  The wicket continued to tumble though and despite brief resistance, Dil Patel pushed tamely to mid off and Taz Qureshi completed a fine tumbling catch to give Malik his third wicket.  Fellow limpit Stephens followed moments after, Ashby taking a sharp chance in the slips to give Khan 2 for 11 from eight hostile and pacey overs - Rosslyn by this time were 20 for 5 and in a real hole.

Rather than going for the jugular and deploying himself and James Ashby into the attack, Skipper Perry opted to give Rich Kendall and Taz Qureshi a go with the ball.  Kendall did have an early success with Shinde popping a relatively simple chance to Perry in the covers, but the medium pace pair went for 72 in five overs apiece as Patel threatened to drag Rosslyn back into the game with a quickfire half century.

The momentum was stopped however when Qureshi produced a moment of brilliance in the field, when he ran out the leisurely lumbering Patel with a direct hit from the boundary to leave the visitors 99 for 7.  Perry (1-8) and Ashby (2-9) were then into the attack and soon polished off the tail to dismiss Rosslyn for 124 in the 31st over.

Lilley's hopes of a smooth ride to victory received a major early dent when they lost leading run scorer Dan McLaughlin and James Ashby in successive balls without troubling the scorers, but a fine 75 run partnership for the third wicket by Brad Tompkins and Ryan Knight pushed Lilley towards victory.

Tompkins was unlucky not to register a half century, caught on the boundary for 43, with the fielder running over the boundary line in his celebration - the watching Lilley players complained, but umpires Kendall and Malik came together and made what was probably the correct decision, in that the fielder had control of the ball, and Tompkins was given out.

Knight however was in no mood to hang around and he crashed the ball to all parts, bringing up his first Lilley half century in the process.

Knight was eventually out just before the end, edging veteran tweaker Dil Patel to slip for a brilliant 71.  Perry and Don Tompkins eased Lilley over the line to register the win by 6 wickets and all five points.

BRAMFIELD (142-9, 30.4 overs, K. Khan 4-24) beat Lilley (139 all out, D. Mills 66 not out) by 1 wicket

Lilleys promotion prospects were dealt a huge blow this weekend, as they slipped to defeat against un-fancied Bramfield in a thriller at the Geoff Banks Smith Memorial Cricket ground.

Berry, standing in his maiden game in charge, won the toss and elected to bat on the driest pitch seen all season. Brad Tompkins and Dan Mills opened up, the pair quickly put Bramfield to the sword. The visitors, missing a couple of late comers, were made to pay with some assertive play by the Lilley openers, as the 50 partnership brought up in only the 7th over.


All was seemingly set for another 200+ score, however, a familiar tune rang as things quickly changed. From 50-0 in the 7th over, it quickly became 70-4 by the 16th. Tompkins (20), Hanley (11), Perry (1) and M Carman (0) all falling and in quick succession.


New captain Berry, in at 6, was sensing the need to knuckle down, but he to was back in the hutch for a scratchy 1, edging Davis to first slip. Taz Qureshi was equally scratchy, with Davis cleaning him up, bowled for 4. Lilley were now really staring down the barrel at 87 for 6.


Mills, having previously never made a half century for Lilley, decided to attack, perhaps realising the end was nigh, taking Jones on in the 29th over. Mills’ onslaught began with a savage four through mid-wicket, to bring up a richly deserved 50, he then followed that up with 2 huge sixes, an over bringing 19 massively needed runs.


However, the fun ended there as only 6 more runs were added, Khan (3), McArdle (4) and Carman (0) were all ousted in quick succession. Lilley ending up 139 all out, with a full 9 overs unused. Mills, was the standout performer, carrying his bat to end on 66 not out, a superb innings.


Lilley needed quick wickets to stand any chance of sniffing out an unlikely victory, and “new” ball pair Malik and Khan kept things very tight from the off.


Khan was first to strike, with Malik taking the catch. Malik was also in on the act, bowling Jones and then having Wilson superbly caught one-handed at mid-wicket by Khan.


Lilley then introduced spin twins Perry and Carman in an attempt to snare much needed wickets. Perry, bowling up the hill for the change, had the opposition skipper Hill caught on the run by Berry at mid-off for a duck, and then bowled Minto. Lilley were very much in the hunt.


 Davis, on the other hand, had other ideas and began to make hay, striking meaty blows to most parts of Lilley, tipping the balance. Carman, Perry and Berry all coming in for some treatment. 


The game was slipping away from Lilley, and fast, Khan was then re-introduced to the attack and bowled a fiery spell from the graveyard end, picking up the dangerous Davis, bowled for 34, and accounting for two more, also bowled. Lilley now needed 1 more wicket.


 However, Neate stood firm and hit the winning runs off Malik, courtesy of a straight six, to give Bramfield the victory by 1 wicket.

STEVENAGE (263-9, 40 Overs) beat LILLEY (56 All Out, 21 overs) by 207 runs

They won and didn't come down the pub after.  Good riddance.

WESTON (167 all out, 32.2 overs, K. Berry 5-41) beat LILLEY (130 all out, 25.1 overs) by 37 runs

Lilley went down to their third successive defeat, four matches since the departure of James Ashby as Captain, as youthful Weston claimed an unlikely scalp at the Geoff Banks-Smith Memorial Cricket Ground this weekend.

The visitors won the toss and chose to bat on the bottom track at Lilley, usually the tamest of the square.  Ahmad Malik bowled tidily from the Cabbage Patch End and despite some wayward stuff from Ashby from the Graveyard End, he should have bagged 492nd wicket for the club when Fursland edged to first slip only for Dan McLaughlin to bungle the chance with 'keeper Dan Mills flailing in front of him.

The first breakthrough came, as it has a few times this season, from a fine piece of fielding.  Don Tompkins swooped on the ball and threw down the stumps with a direct hit to remove Skeels for 19.

Karl Berry replaced Malik from the bottom and soon was in the wickets, inducing an edge from Plumb which was snaffled by Ashby at first slip.  Soon after, Fursland's luck ran out and he edged Berry to Mills who made no mistake with the regulation catch.

Tim Perry came into the attack from the Graveyard End and struck with his first ball, a rank long hop which Snowden some how spooned tamely to Khurrum Khan at mid on.  He continued to extract some extravagant turn and bounce, too much so, as several balls passed the stumps having beaten the shot.

No such trouble for Karl 'Snarl' Berry, as the seamer continued to wreak havoc at the other end.  Pat Bennett managed a couple of meaty blows before the left hander was castled by the Lilley Captain.  Berry then removed Fursland Junior to pick up his fourth wicket and despite some stubborn resistance from his opposite number, he bagged his first ever five wicket haul when he clean bowled Peckham with a pearler with his last delivery of the spell to finish with 5 for 41.

Dan McLaughlin (2-12) and Khurrum Khan (1-18) mopped up the tail, Weston bowled out inside 33 overs for 167.

Chasing at Lilley is never a given and 167 was going to be a tricky total on a wicket which was still doing a bit.  A good start required then from the Lilley top order.  Disaster struck very first ball however when Brad Tompkins was late coming forward and was duly castled by the nippy Snowden for a golden duck, bringing the surprisingly promoted Ashby - himself on the back of two golden ducks - to the crease.

More Lilley misery followed when leading run scorer Dan McLaughlin was bowled by a superb yorker from Snowden and Weston thought they had three when they had a big caught behind appeal off Ashby turned down, the ball brushing the batsman's sleeve through to the 'keeper.

It was lanky left armer Patrick Bennett who bagged the former Captain soon after however, a rank long hop tamely turned to Sherman backward of square for 13.  Snowden trapped Tim Perry (7) leg before and when Bennett removed Ryan Knight, 9, and Rich Kendall, 2, Lilley were in bother.  The bother only got bigger when Donovan Tompkins tamely patted the ball to short cover for nought, but Khurrum Khan (10),  Ahmad Malik and Dan Mills, a victim of batting order rotation despite impressive knocks this season, began the Lilley fight back.  Khan was caught after a few lusty blows, but Malik picked up the mantle.

Malik played in his traditional 'try and hit every ball out of Hertfordshire' style whilst Mills solidly saw off Snowden with an almost blemish free display of technique, surviving one chance as he feathered through to the 'keeper only for the tall gloveman to shell the chance.  The pair added 45 for the 9th wicket before Malik's luck ran out and he was caught for 22.  Mills continued to try and push on as Lilley were within touching distance of a win with Karl Berry in at eleven, but as he did so he skied a chance and was caught for a well made 29, Lilley all out for 130 and beaten for the third successive time.

Baldock Town (172-8, 39.3 overs, K. Khan 3-22) beat Lilley (168-7, 40 overs, McLauhglin 72) by two wickets

Lilley slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat in a thrilling NHL Division 2 match with Baldock Town this weekend, despite almost pulling off a remarkable win.

Lilley were already down to ten due to a string of unavailability and matters were compounded further when Ahmad Malik and Taz Qureshi both cried off on the morning off the match, citing injury and illness respectively.  Lilley were indebted to Sam Burgess, making her fourth league appearance, and a late substitute appearance from Steve McArdle to help out.

Lilley batted first on a refreshingly flat looking deck, after a string of games on the less than impressive Lilley square of late.  With only eight men and Sam in the ranks, Lilley once again looked for a good start and once again were left reeling when Brad Tompkins was expertly caught in the gully for nought by Letford off portly paceman Thomas' third delivery.

Lilley fought back though as Dan McLaughlin (72) and James Ashby (28) forged a fine second wicket partnership of over a hundred, the former striking yet another fine half century for Lilley on their travels.  Both batsmen had their slices of luck, Ashby dropped at cover and McLaughlin shelled by both Letford off his own bowling and by the wicketkeeper and first slip, who stood watching as he edged between them. 

Ashby was looking well set when he miscued a rank long hop high in the air, which was well caught by the back-pedalling Cooley.  Ryan Knight played in usual aggressive style, driving a number of impressive boundaries before being given out caught behind for 24, although the batsman claimed it had brushed his top.

McLaughlin's fortune finally deserted him however when he senselessly aimed a wild hack at impressive leg spinner Letford's last delivery of the spell, only to miss and be stumped.

Tim Perry looked in good order until he was cleaned up by veteran trundler Alistair Jones for 9 and although Don Tompkins and Khurrum Khan were both bowled soon after, Karl Berry (8 not out) and Sam Burgess (0 not out) survived the remainder of the overs to deny the home side a bonus point, Lilley posting a slightly disappointing 168-7.

A low total with only nine players was always going to be difficult to defend and needed a fine start.  But a fine start they got, as Ashby and Khan bowled with verve and aggression.  Cooley was unfortunate to pick out the only fielder within thirty yards when he tamely clipped Khan to Brad Tompkins at backward square for 3 and when Blenkin feathered Ashby through to Ryan Knight behind the stumps, Lilley had removed both openers with 16 on the board.

Two became 22-3 when Baines chopped on off Khan and Lilley could smell blood.  Khan was replaced by Berry, who struck with his first ball when Gentle offered an appropriately delicate flick straight to Don Tompkins, Baldock 40-4.

Ashby at the other end was replaced having bowled five overs, three maidens taking 1 for 2 and after some early experimentation with off cutters, McLaughlin returned to bowling properly and snared Jones, caught behind by Knight for 13.  Baldock were in a real hole moments later when Macca cleaned up Letford, as the home side lurched to 62-6, still needing 107 more runs to win with four batsmen left.  The returning Steve McArdle joined the fray as sub fielder and Lilley were surely closing in on the first win of Karl Berry's reign.

Regrettably, the wheels then fell off the Lilley wagon.  Ryan Knight, who offered to take the gloves from Brad Tompkins, was given a torrid time behind the stumps with some indifferent bowling and bounce causing the 'keeper problems.  Lilley's bowlers struggled for line and length and numerous extras were conceded in a crazy half hour spell.

Perry managed to spin one through O'Brien's defences, bowling the stubborn right hander for 37, but Watts and Arshad combined to up the tempo.  Arshad played and missed aplenty, but when he connected, he hit some mighty blows.  Ashby came mighty close to bowling the all rounder a couple of times, but anything full was despatched.  The impressive Khurrum Khan (3-22) returned to the attack and managed to prize the wicket out, Arshad top edging the ball to gully where McArdle pouched his first catch for the club.

Baldock were 160-8, but effectively nine down as their other player, opening bowler Thomas, had left the ground for the day to "go and get some pussy".  Despite his enthusiastic loving of cats hampering the home side's chances, Baldock needed just 9 to win, with Watts and long haired hippy like Lashmar at the crease.

With Berry suffering a crisis of confidence after a shocking start of his second spell, he turned to normal 'keeper Brad Tompkins to try and find some inspiration.  And here it came, Lashmar casually flicking the ball to McArdle at mid wicket for the Irishman to complete a simple catch and win the game for Lilley...NO!!  The sub fielder somehow shelled the chance, much to the disbelief of home umpire Jones who exclaimed "Oh come on!!".

Not to worry, as Tompkins tossed another up and Lashmar crashed a mistimed flat batted swat straight back to the bowler to complete the catch and bag the five points for Lilley...NO!!!  Tompkins the villain this time as he bungled the caught and bowled effort.

Baldock scrambled the winning runs with three balls to spare, leaving Lilley heart broken - well, ok, a little bit miffed.  The damp squib of an end to the season continues, but the 3 litre jugs in the home pavilion certainly made up a little for the gloom.  A good game played in a good spirit and a close finish - a shame Lilley only had eight of the original team turn up at the game.