WCCC vs Hampton Hill CC

Date: Sunday, 5 May 2024

Venue: Cavendish, 384 Field End Rd, Ruislip - HA4 9PG

Type: 40 overs.

Result: Won

Key Facts:

• Both teams played with 10 men only.

In a gripping clash at Cavendish, Wealdstone Corinthians CC hosted Hampton Hill CC, delivering a game full of twists and turns. Despite both teams fielding only 10 players due to last-minute injuries, the encounter brimmed with excitement from start to finish.

First Innings: Hampton Hill CC

Opting to bat first on a challenging wicket, Wealdstone Corinthians encountered early setbacks with the dismissals of Shiju Raju and Balaji Ravi Kumar, courtesy of the disciplined bowling from Zeeshan Bajwa and Andrew Blair. Suren Iyer's promising innings was cut short, leaving Wealdstone reeling early on.

However, Tejas Ved emerged as the cornerstone of the innings, showcasing resilience and grit with a composed knock of 65 runs. Supported initially by Dharmik Shah and later by Vivek Velandy, Ved anchored the innings admirably, steering his team out of troubled waters with a crucial partnership. Velandy's rare promotion in the batting order proved pivotal as the duo stitched together a vital stand of 59 runs, resurrecting Wealdstone's innings and propelling them to a competitive total of 148 runs. Despite Hampton Hill's superb bowling display, Wealdstone's total appeared formidable given the challenging conditions.

Notable Performances:

• Tejas Ved: 65 runs

• Dharmik Shah: 26 runs

• Vivek Velandy: 9 runs

• Andrew Blair: 4 overs, 2 wickets for 7 runs

• Zeeshan Bajwa: 6.5 overs, 3 wickets for 25 runs

• Richard Longley: 4 overs, 2 wickets for 5 runs

Second Innings: WCCC

In pursuit of the target, Hampton Hill made a blazing start, with openers Shaan Sohail and Gary Morley laying siege to the Wealdstone bowlers. A few plays and misses but overall, the duo's aggressive stroke play seemed to put Hampton Hill on course for victory as they raced to 99 runs without loss by the 23rd over. The challenging conditions seemed to have disappeared completely. Hampton Hill only needed 49 off 102 deliveries with all of their wickets in hand.

However, upon the insistence of the think tank of the team – Suren & Tejas suggested the skipper bring himself on – as it’s now or never - a tactical masterstroke as it turned out because it altered the course of the game. Introducing himself into the attack, Samarth struck with his very first delivery, dismissing the well-set Sohail for 51 and injecting fresh energy into his team. Samarth’s 2nd over in the spell got the highly prized wicket of Gary Morley who was dismissed for 45. A great juggling act by Shaji at mid-wicket but he held on, and Corinthians smelt blood.

Samarth's breakthroughs ignited a remarkable turnaround as Wealdstone's bowlers tightened the screws, stifling Hampton Hill's run flow and chipping away at their batting lineup. A combination of Shaji & Dharmik also effected a run out of Tom Hughes who looked highly threatening with the bat. Crucial contributions from Amol Shah, Shaji Jacob, Dharmik Shah, and Tejas Ved saw wickets tumble at regular intervals, leaving Hampton Hill reeling under pressure.

Despite brief resistance from Hampton Hill's lower order, Wealdstone Corinthians held their nerve, showcasing exceptional bowling discipline and fielding prowess to restrict their opponents to 135 runs. Amol Shah's miserly spell of 8 overs for 13 runs epitomized Wealdstone's relentless pursuit of victory.

In the end, Wealdstone Corinthians sealed a sensational comeback, emerging triumphant by a margin of 13 runs. The match will be remembered as a testament to Wealdstone's fighting spirit and their ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, highlighting the unpredictable nature of cricket and the thrill it brings to players.

Notable Performances:

• Shaan Sohail: 51 runs

• Gary Morley: 45 runs

• Akshay Samarth: 8 overs, 3 wickets for 20 runs

• Amol Shah: 8 overs, 1 wicket for 13 runs

• Dharmik Shah: 8 overs, 1 wicket for 26 runs

• Tejas Ved: 6 overs, 1 wicket for 16 runs

• Shaji Jacob: 6 overs, 1 wicket for 26 runs

Player of the Match: Tejas Ved ⭐