Harpenden’s opening batsman, just returning from university (and usually a bowler!) enjoyed himself immensely. The short Cockfosters Road side boundary was in constant danger and the Jet station was to be peppered by no fewer than 11 6s during the innings. Bradley is now an expert on climbing over the gate by the scoreboard! A score of 147 not out ensued out of a total of 257 for 5.

Wellsy bowled a good spell first up taking 1 for 34 from his 8 overs and both Bradley (2 for 18 from 4) and Christian (2 for 48 from 8) provided a degree of control later in the innings. Noticeable though that I have described the 20 overs bowled from the Pavilion end (i.e. protected from the short leg side boundary) and the other bowlers therefore found it difficult to keep the runs down. Good to see Akash back in the side following his A levels, even if his overs proved expensive.

In reply, the initial effort to quickly knock off the runs created havoc as within 22 balls the score was 31 for 4! Joe Barker fell first ball, well caught at midwicket to a ball that bounced twice – referral of the no ball rule to the scorers failing to save him. Neil and Dan Rollo scored quickly and then got out and Sid Williams completed a forgettable day by being bowled first ball (thanks for coming Sid!).

This brought Shag and Teflon Jr together and saw a bizarre partnership with Shag being easily outscored by a partner c30 years his junior! In the end he resorted to desperate tactics and saw Michael back off to the pavilion by finally hitting a ball hard and leaving Michael with a sizeable bruise on the forearm! This brought in the even younger George Uttley and saw an even more bizarre partnership as the first 50 was brought up without George troubling the scorers! Everyone (including proud father) was pleased to see him finally get off the mark with a two - immediately followed up with another.

Shag finally fell for 77 (out of a staggered 5^th wicket partnership of 131) caught and bowled after being fortunate to survive being dropped and bowled off a no ball – not forgetting the run out shout to an unsighted umpire. A vital knock though that turned what could have been an embarrassing display into something more competitive. Wellsy then tried to do his thing and failed.

Teflon Jr returned from arnica cream treatment to complete a top senior score of 39 (going past the 28 he scored the previous day, but allowing his father to return the jug money to his pocket!) before he was stumped with just 4 overs remaining. George fell later the same over for a very creditable 14 – lots of promise there for the future from both these youngsters. Bradley, Christian (nice 4 with another proud father watching) and Akash took the score past 200 before Akash was the last to fall off the penultimate ball with the score on 207.

An 11.45am meet for an away trip to West London beckoned for ‘fosters finest Sunday cricketers on a muggy June morning. “Mono brow” Wells emailed and rang via his Blackberry (naturally) to say that he was running late due to his 10.15 light bulb counting appointment in Crouch End running over. Brow explained his inability to keep to a meet time with the usual “The thing is I couldn’t refuse £500 for a morning’s work”, oh how the other half live eh. Stokesy kindly offered to wait for him whilst the rest of us embarked upon the pilgrimage to West London. Leo loaded his magic bus with kit, Fishlike, new recruit Brett and Lloydy. I could not help but notice that Lloydy was boarding Leo’s magic bus whose registration plate is “HUNG” - very fitting I thought.

Dec “it’s all about playing for an average” O’Leary persuaded Cheese to accompany him to the ground in his 1990’s “Cut and Shunt” BMW via the opticians to pick up his lens’ “I can’t bat without cheese I’m telling ya” were the cries en route to the ground.

Upon arrival, X-man was relaxing and chewing the cud with Pearhead with a mug of tea and a fag. We all crammed into the match box of a changing room which was soon evacuated after someone let out the most vile air biscuit known to man.    

Fishlike had a chat with their skipper and it was agreed that we would play a 40 over game. Fish duly won the toss and opted to bat. Dec hit 80 odd before giving someone else a go whilst debutant Brett hit an impressive 46. Fish also chipped in with 30 odd. However, the highlight of our innings was when “Brow” went out to face the last ball of our innings and his phone rang as the bowler ran in. “Brow” duly stopped the game, realised that it was Leo on the other end, took the call and then beckoned the bowler to re-commence proceedings which resulted in him being stumped- MAGIC!!! We posted a total of 220 odd which we were confident was more than enough to win us the game. 

Fishlike opened up with “Brow” from one end in which he bowled his obligatory pick & mix whilst Tony Sayers (TS) shifted in with some medium nip from the other and on the whole bowled a great line and length. However, it was “Brow” who took the first wicket when he surprised the batsman and bowled a straight ball that hit the stumps. Fishlike had seen enough and gave “Brow” the Spanish archer treatment and replaced him with Jimmy Stead who bowled a tight line and length from his first delivery. It didn’t take long for “the Pear” to earn his match fee when he gave their number 3 out LBW. Like a true Pro “the Pear” raised his finger and muttered “that’s out, that’s out” almost to justify to himself and those around him that it was out. Hanwell’s bemused number 3 trudged back to the pavilion a despondent and broken man, he was well and truly “Peared”. Two quickly became three when a smart run out by Fishlike added a bit of class to the proceedings and high 5s all round ensued, apart from Leo who is banned from such celebrations due to his “mit” being an offensive weapon. 

TS was replaced by Cheese who took a wicket in his third or fourth over courtesy of “Brow” who took a regulation catch at mid-off but was not happy that he broke a finger nail which will require extensive manicuring. Cheese followed up with another wicket, this time a caught and bowled which was taken in instalments. Fishlike had enough of Cheese grunting through his delivery stride and gave Brett the nod to warm up. Brett took his first Cockfosters wicket and bowled well in his first game for over 3 years. The club look forward to seeing Brett from mid June onwards. 

X-man “act like you know” came on and saw his first, second, third, fourth and sixth ball get dispatched to all corners of the ground from Whaley’s better looking and more talented twin brother, (he played the smear shot with such authority and elegance that Whaley could only dream about). However, X-man had the last laugh (just like he always does) when their Whaley look-a-like was dying for a fag and beer (sound familiar) held out and hit a ball down TS’ throat at cow corner. In between X-man’s generous spell and Jimmy’s spell Matty Stead carried on from where he left off last Saturday and took 2 very quick wickets for very few. Fishlike asked Candle to warm up (man, that bloke gets his 10 quids worth) to finish off the game but Xav took the last wicket when Matty Stead caught their number 11 and we were all spared Candle’s flying darts for another week at least. 

Overall, a fantastic and hugely enjoyable game of cricket which shows that Sunday cricket is very much alive. Just think you could be at home like Munson making Coleslaw!!

A makeshift side containing 4 members of the Sayers family plus the U13 colts manager making his first appearance for quite a while saw Flamstead score plenty of runs thanks to some good hitting at the top of the order. This included their Number 3 going on to an unbeaten 112.

All of the bowlers tried their best and never gave up. Tracey Sayers was particularly unlucky to see 3 catches dropped off her bowling, as at least 2 of them should have been taken with ease.

In reply it was another record for the oldest CCC opening partnership with Messrs Pigden and Grant at least another week older than their last effort! Both went in their twenties and with Shag gone for one the score was 66 for 3. Cue the arrival of Tony Sayers who proceeded to play in his usual manner of trying to hit every ball as hard as he could!

He survived at least a couple of relatively straight forward catching chances near the boundary but continued on. The partnership for the 4th wicket was a bizarre one, with Barend battling away to find form. He faced almost as many balls as Tony in a partnership of 105, but finished out for only 10. Just before that Tony brought up his hundred off 46 deliveries with another thundering boundary.

He was joined by Michael who made sure that he stayed in and gave Tony the strike. Tony finished the game in typically spectacular fashion hitting 3 successive 6s to bring up a final score of 160 not out from just 70 balls, to see the side home with 7 overs remaining. I am not sure how many balls were lost during the onslaught but I can confirm that Autoglass have an appointment at my home on Tuesday afternoon!

Covers at Edmonton, together with massive black clouds skirting the ground at regular intervals, allowed a 35 over game to start and more surprisingly be completed.

Woody won the toss and decided to bat first - for no better reason that if it all went wrong at least the lads would be home early. As it turned out this was an excellent batting performance against some initially nippy Edmonton bowlers.

Duncan Elder making his Cockfosters debut made a composed half century and all the top order batsman made some runs - Xav scored a quick fire 32 including a lovely straight driven 6 and Joe Clune helped himself to a composed 30. At 130 for 3 it was possible that the momentum would be lost however Doris with some lusty blows and kamikaze running and Adam (once he'd finally taken guard and moved the sightscreens closer to Winchmore Hill) increased the momentum, scoring 42 and 21 respectively.

James Stead then surprised everyone with a couple of lusty blows (after Duncan had been told now watch for some shots on the V along the ground) and Tony Sayers nipped in to whack 2 fours in the final over to see the side to an impressive 214 for 6.

In reply it was clear early that Edmonton had turned out a bowling side as only their number 4 batsman looked at all comfortable. Matt Stead bowled a tremendous spell giving up just one run in 4 overs down to 3rd man and seeing Xav spill a fairly regulation chance at slip. At the other end the returning Matt Chambers was a little rusty but still picked up the opening wicket.

Tony Sayers was carted off a short delivery and in response to his father's call of 'pitch it up', duly obliged next ball to send the stumps flying. This then turned into an excellent spell of 2 for 10 from 5 overs. It was now time for the spinners and they all picked up a wicket to leave Cheesy to pick up the final 3 wickets in the space of just 7 balls, including having a great chance of taking a hat trick, bowling as he was to No 11.

Edmonton all out for 114 with 7 overs to spare and beaten by 100 runs

April 26 - North Mymms 198 for 6 lost to Cockfosters 200 for 7 by 3 wkts - Danny Becker
 
Just a week to go before the league season starts and Cockfosters’ final friendly away at local rivals North Mymms produced a morale boosting 3 wicket win in a 45 over match.

On a gloriously hot and sunny day Chairman of Cricket and returning Mymms opener Chris Stead managed to lose the toss, despite assuring anyone who would listen the night before that we would be batting first. For the second week running, Matt Stead and Tony Sayers opened the bowling with tight line and length. Matt made an early breakthrough by sending our old boy, Kyle Claxton, back to the pavilion.

The change bowling saw Joe Barker enter the fray from the scorebox end with Mark Sayers from the cow field end. Again tight bowling continued after an initial loosening over from Mark but no more breakthroughs were forthcoming, despite Mark inducing the remaining Mymms opener to lob the ball gently to Steady at mid wicket who failed to hold a simple chance – maybe his 6’6” frame wasn’t quite big enough. Eventually Joe’s persistence paid off and the Mymms opener fell to a catch at cover after completing his 50.

At drinks, Mymms were well in check and progressing slowly, but without any major alarms. After the interval, James Stead replaced Mark Sayers and never really settled with Jon Mather for Mymms ruthlessly exploiting the shortest of short leg side boundaries after James had given him a lifeline by dropping a caught and bowled opportunity. Sam Barker at the other end bowled tidily with good flight and managed to finish his spell with a well deserved wicket courtesy of a well judged catch in the outfield by Tony Sayers. Sam’s victim was the Mymms No 4 who had given real impetus to the innings which had started to become an individual battle for Mather to reach his century, which soon appeared to be more important than a decent team total. Losing strike became an issue and failing to cross with the No 4 when he was dismissed was criminal. Up stepped Matt Stead who produced an excellent delivery to remove Mather for 99 and he followed this by cleaning up the new batsman with the last ball of the innings. To keep the home side under 200, our target with 10 overs to go.

A target of 199 was well within Cockfosters’ reach and Ian Cooper and Andy Stokes got the innings off to an excellent start, with the help of some very strange bowling. After 3 overs we had 31 on the board, of which only half had come off the bat with the Mymms opener having been warned off for bowling two beamers. It could be a long season for him! The openers progressed fluently with runs flowing at both ends. A straight drive from Stokes was particularly memorable, with a swipe at his very next ball instantly forgettable as he lost his leg stump searching for the short boundary.

James Stead scored a solid 26 before making way for Ben Wood who looked comfortable during his brief stay at the crease. Danny Becker joined Cooper in the middle and runs continued to come. Cooper reaching his 50 eventually fell for a well made and mature 66. Tony Sayers, Matt Stead and Chris Stead all came and went as Mymms started to sense that they may be able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. They tried to pressure Sam Barker but he was up to the task, blocking when necessary and forcing runs to allow his more experienced partner back onto strike. With only 5 needed the bowler dropped the ball short and saw it land well over the boundary, leaving Becker 48 not out at the end.

Cockfosters won by 3 wickets with 3 overs to spare. A well deserved victory and a good team performance.
 

April 19 - Potters Bar 259 for 7 beat Cockfosters 229 all out by 30 runs - Declan O'Leary

On Saturday 19^th April 2008 Cockfosters played Potters Bar at The Walk in the first game of the new season. Blimey it was cold. We lost the toss and were put into field. (Bugger!). Matt Stead and Tony Sayers opened the bowling. Potters Bar have a nice wicket even on a damp day and our bowlers realised that anything short of a length was going to sit up & be pulled away to the boundary with ease. However it was a difficult first game of the season and both got hit to the rope when they succumbed to temptation. When they bowled full and at the stumps however it was a different story. Many times Matt and Tony got swing and drift to miss the outside edge and had appeals turned down. It was a great stuff at times and probably why their best batsmen didn’t score the runs today.

Starting his first full season at Cockfosters, Owen Hughes came on first change and ‘golden arm’ produced a nice display of bowling. Accuracy was the key and with plenty of bowled wickets Owen is likely to get many wickets this year. A good acquisition for Cockfosters, especially with Hayden now just past his best years. Shouts of ‘Bowled Timmy’ were still heard as the similarities are there.

Kyle Pratt (aka The Wolf), a new Aussie who is unfortunate enough to work with Adam Pigden during the week, made his debut for Fosters and bowled some good deliveries but he and our other spinners Moruzzi and James Stead got tapped about. Spinners rely heavily on building pressure, held catches and warm hands however it didn’t happen. Potters Bar tucked in for the last 10 overs. They finished 259-7 off 45 overs setting Fosters an unlikely total to reach and we ran in for some tea.

Fosters opened with O’Leary and Cooper. A combined age of 43. Cooper played on first delivery. Blow. Andy Stokes strolled up playing at arguably his home wicket (he's moved to Cockfosters - ed) and started an onslaught of pull shots from the Football Club end. At the other end he pulled a yorker for 6 and into the hedge. When the bowler asked him ‘what was that?’ he exclaimed “It was 6!”

O’Leary played well until leaving a straight one from their roly poly bowler on 19. Stokes got out for 28 (or was it 32 - ed), James scored 26. Adam came in and occupied the crease well and played shots. Got a feeling this might be his year as he looks more care free and ready to play his shots from the off. Scored 20. Tony looked quality until he got out early. A real shame. If he could concentrate on staying at the wicket for 20overs+ and nothing else he would have a very good average. Out for 21. Kyle scored a beautiful 31 at 9 after playing some excellent strokes and showing a good defence too and Mark Sayers scored a fine 50 not out hitting three ‘big’ 6’s out to Tesco’s. The bench of the damned had something to laugh about as Cockfosters went from 140-8 went to 229 all out. Thanks to Kyle and Mark who made the score look more respectable and kept Bar out on the pitch.

Best play for Fosters – Stokes played a few really good pulls but definitely not the one for 6! But Wolfman got it with his 3 successive 4’s to the cover boundary late on. Classy.

Funniest moment – Matt Stead launched the ball in from the boundary to Adam keeping wicket. As Adam jumped without leaving the floor the ball sailed over his head toward Mark Sayers backing up 10ft behind…… and onto his cold right foot from 70 yards! Mark rightly told Munson what he thought of that piece of ‘keeping.

Apart from Cooper the top 6 all got starts which means they are losing concentration after getting settled. Definitely not good enough and something we need to talk about. Top 6 need to aim for 70-80 runs as standard. Bowlers I think are not getting supported by the fielders enough and perhaps more quirky and encouraging comments are needed.