HATRICK OF WINS
Henley made it a hat trick of wins as they completed a 3 wicket win at Amersham on Saturday. The home captain won the toss and asked Henley to field first. Henley opened with Andrew White and Tim Chamberlain who bowled with excellent control and kept the scoring rate down in the early overs. It was Chamberlain who made the first breakthrough as he had Rob Viney caught by Peter Dean at slip. Mayer joined Shuttle and he looked to play his shots from the off and rode his luck in getting to 25 before he fell into a well set trap caught by Ellison in the deep off a well directed Chamberlain bouncer. Andrew White continued to bowl an excellent spell and was justly rewarded with the wickets of Shuttle and Cann. Amersham's captain Jackson looked to rebuild the innings with Andrew Viney but he only managed to reach 14 before Yandell got a delivery to turn between bat and pad to bowl him. Viney and Hugh Jackson then batted in a controlled manner without taking any risks as they set about trying to build a total against some excellent bowling from Yandell, Wheeler and Ellison. Ellison accounted for the well set Jackson as he finally induced a loose stroke to be caught by Yandell for 37, and the very next ball Dean took another smart catch to remove Colquhuon for 0. After this it was left to Yandell to complete the innings by taking the wickets of Rogers, Viney and Nel all to good catches from Barber, Dean and Ellison respectively. Yandell finished with the standout figures of the innings of 4-32 from 11.1 overs as Amersham recorded a total of 157.
After the interval Dean and Tom Oldershaw opened the innings in a watchful manner against the pace of Nel and Rogers. Oldershaw looked to be in good touch before he was caught trying to pull a well directed Nel short ball to be caught by Shuttle. This brought Ellison to the crease and he and Dean set about building the innings with what would be a match winning partnership of 80 before Dean was unfortunately adjudged caught behind off Nel for 54. Ellison soon followed caught and bowled by skipper Jackson who was finding turn and bounce with his offspin. Goodson was caught driving at point, again off Nel and Barber was caught behind trying to up the run rate from another well directed Nel short ball. With 30 still needed and the overs running out Andrew White upped the tempo with some excellent stroke making, especially off the spinner before he was bowled by Nel, who was bowling Amersham back into the game as he accounted for Wheeler the very next ball to finish with figures of 6-38 from 16 overs. However, Nel's efforts were not enough and it was left to Bezuidenhout to hit the winning runs to take Henley to another well earned victory.
DEAN LEADS THE WAY WITH 146 NOT OUT
Henley 2nd XI secured a much needed victory away to 5th place Finchampstead last weekend. Skipper Peter Dean led from the front carrying his bat to an unbeaten 146 and was well supported throughout the innings as Henley posted 4-294 from their allotted 52 overs. Henley won by 86 runs as Finchampstead were bowled out for 209 from 39.1 overs.
On a good track, the Henley innings started at a cautious rate of 3 runs per over and an unfortunate mix up led to the run out of Hilditch (19) in the 14th over, leaving Henley at 1-43. Chris Ellison (17) joined Dean at the crease and the innings proceeded to accelerate. Wickets in hand allowed Henley to open their shoulders early scoring 150 runs from the final 17 overs, with strong hitting provided by Jason Barber (33), Darren White (48) and Andy White (16).
Henley used the old ball against the aggressive Finchampstead top order which swiftly moved to 2-105 from their first 15 overs. Despite the aggressive start, the Henley bowlers toiled away with the old ball and were well supported by the fielders taking several catching opportunities. An excellent spell of spin bowling from Chris Ellison (8-1-29-3) ensured that when the new ball was taken after 34 overs, Finchampstead still required 114 runs from the remaining 14 overs with only 3 wickets in hand. Andy White quickly wrapped up the tail returning figures of 4-27 as Finchampstead were dismissed 86 runs short.
Henley remain third bottom in the league, perilously close to the relegation zone. They have the chance to distance themselves from the danger zone as they take on 2nd bottom Fleet this weekend at the Brakspear ground.
The Henley second XI were comprehensively defeated in their second round match against an impressive Basingstoke at the Brakspear Ground on Saturday. Henley were bowled out for 130 in 36.2 overs, chasing the Basingstoke total of 265.
After winning the toss and inserting the visitors, Henley paid the price for missing a chance to remove opener Andrew Fulton (58) in the first over of an impressive spell from Henley quick Tim Chamberlain.
Chamberlain was troublesome and was rewarded when he clean bowled Hampshire’s Chris Wood for 16, however Fulton continued his aggressive start until he was removed skying a shot from the the spin of Ron Pratley. By then Basingstoke had asserted control and when Hampshire academy batsman Adam Rouse was removed for 32 off the bowling of Yandell, they had built a solid base of 3-112 after 22 overs. The Henley attack did well to restrict the visitors from that point on with Guyanese all rounder Dillon Heyliger stating his intention immediately against the spin of Pratley, launching the first of a number of lusty sixes. His entertaining innings of 106 n.o. from just 76 balls included 8 sixes and 7 fours. The Basingstoke innings was closed early at 265-5 from 47 overs.
The Henley reply faulted when Hilditch (14) and Dean (29) departed prematurely after making starts against the testing opening attack of Basingstoke. Resistance was provided by Nick Goodson (16) and Steve Horne (15), but when Henley plummeted from 3-85 to 7-89 at the 27 over mark, only a partnership of 31 from Bezuidenhout and Yandell ensured that any batting points were salvaged from the match. Basingstoke opening bowler Martyn James starred with 6-56 from his 17 over spell, and Wood, who has opened the bowling for Hampshire this year, displayed his class.
Henley drop to 3rd bottom in the league and face the challenge of playing three of the top four teams over the next three weekends – starting with the third placed High Wycombe 2nd XI this weekend.
Amersham were the visitors to the Brakspear Ground for the week 6 clash of Thames Valley League Division 1. Stand in skipper Darren White won the toss and asked Amersham to bat first on a pitch with a hint of green after being covered for much of the week. Henley’s new ball pair of Andrew White and Simon Wheeler started well and it wasn’t long before White made the breakthrough having S Viney caught by Ellison at cover with the score on 5. Three balls later the visitors were reduced to 5-2 when White again broke through, Yandell taking a good catch at second slip. Amersham then began consolidating and it wasn’t until the 18th over that Viney opened his arms and took 12 from an over. Henley’s change bowlers of Darren White, Tim Chamberlain, James Yandell and Steve Horne bowled well and were ably supported in the field with some good catching from Hilditch at slip, Ellison at point again and an excellent run out from Horne to remove Viney for a well composed 55. D White ringed the changes as Amersham’s lower order looked to go after the bowling in pursuit of quick runs to push the final total up to 236-8.
Amersham opened the bowling with the old ball and Henley’s opening pair of Ellison and Hildtich soon found their way and the runs were free flowing until the new ball was taken in the 8th over with the score past 50. The new ball was taken by Nel and he was rewarded immediately with the wicket of Hilditch with a good delivery that nipped back to bowl the Henley opener. Ellison continued to look in good touch and was joined by Horne. Horne was then expertly run out but a direct hit by the fielder at mid-off. The very next ball Henley were 3 down when Ellison was caught at the wicket with one that bounced a bit more than expected. Nick Goodson and Prakash Gurung were now at the crease needing to consolidate against the new ball and they were put to the test by the Amersham bowlers who were finding good lengths and had the ball moving around. Gurung was next man out bowled by a yorker and was shortly followed by Goodson. The White brothers than began rebuilding the innings and took the score onto 120 before A White was removed caught at point. D White and Harrigan continued Henley's steady progress before Harrigan was unlucky to be bowled by a delivery that ricocheted off both thighs before hitting the stumps. White was joined by Wheeler and with some clean hitting all 3 results were still possible before the rain intervened for 45 minutes with 8 overs left to play. The rain then relented and the players were able to resume and complete the game. Wheeler was removed with 4 overs to go and it was left to D White and Yandell to see the innings to a safe conclusion, not before D White had moved to a well-made 50 and guided the home side to another bonus point by taking 20 from the final over and leaving Henley 202-8.
Henley travel to Kew this Saturday and will be looking to build on a performance that once again had many positives but still came up ultimately short of the desired victory.
CLASSY DEAN COMEBACK CENTURY
A century from returning skipper Peter Dean helped set up a comprehensive victory for the Henley 2nd XI away to Fleet last weekend. Henley returned with a maximum of 25 points after scoring 8-282 then bowling Fleet out for 138, Darren White again proved the destroyer with the ball taking the first five Fleet wickets in a super spell of 10-4-5-20.
Henley won the toss and elected to bat, play commencing with a good opening stand of 48 between the reunited pairing of Dean (100) and Hilditch (25). Chris Ellison (34) joined Dean in the 12th over and the pair put on 102 runs for the 2nd wicket in just 15 overs. The rest of the Henley team continued to dominate with the bat and a 48 over declaration ensued with the score on 8-282.
After tea, it was the bowling of White and Yandell which ruined hopes for the home team. Good catching ensured the bowlers were rewarded with wickets when chances came, and Fleet were reduced to 6-47 by the opening combination. But for a small amount of resistance provided by Fleet’s wagging tail, Henley completed their first victory of the year in comprehensive fashion in the 36th over.
In a tight table, Henley are just 7 points from 5th spot and they will look to build momentum this weekend as they take on Amersham at the Brakspear ground. Anybody interested in scoring for the Henley team this year should contact the club.
LANE STUNS HENLEY SECONDS
The hopes of the Henley 2nd XI’s first victory of the season were dashed by an astonishing four over spell by Finchampstead stalwart Russel Lane at the Brakspear Ground last Saturday. Lane, who came on to bowl late in the day removed five Henley batsmen for only five runs in a four over wonder spell. Lane, who commented after the match “I don’t bowl much anymore, it hurts too much” turned the game on it’s head after Henley looked to be cruising to victory at 165-4 chasing 188 to win with 7 overs remaining.
Henley performed well in the first innings, bowling Finchampstead out for 187 in just 46.2 overs. Simon Wheeler and Darren White bowled well snaring three wickets each, and seemers Munro, Nugent and Horne all added much needed spark to the Henley attack.
Chris Ellison again started the run chase well for Henley with a solid 68, however he lacked support as his top order batting partners failed to make it to double figures. It was not until skipper Darren White, promoting himself to number 5 joined him in the 24th over that any real support was provided. After Ellison was caught behind in the 31st over, White was joined by brother Andy and the pair contributed a controlled partnership of 55 from the next 15 overs, before Andy was removed by Lane with the score on 165. What followed was, not for the first time this season, a remarkable collapse. So much so that Henley needed three runs from the last ball of the match to win with one wicket remaining. However they only managed the one run, and fell agonisingly short of the target. Lane had steamed in with intent, and his figures of 4-1-5-5 speak for themselves.
The Henley supporters turned out well and had enjoyed a good afternoon’s cricket from the home side, but they were left stunned as Lane showed why he was once the opening bowler for Buckinghamshire. Henley travel away to Fleet this weekend.
Henley Seconds Fall to High Wycombe
The Henley 2nd XI suffered their first defeat of the season at the Brakspear ground on Saturday, as they were bowled out for 211 in the 46th over, 40 runs short of the High Wycome 2nd XI’s total of 9-252.
High Wycombe were asked to bat first by Henley’s stand in captain Darren White, and after controlled spells from the opening bowlers it was Tim Chamberlain who continued his early season form by removing two of the High Wycombe middle order in quick succession. However High Wycombe’s number three Janned proved difficult to remove and continued to 83 before being well caught off the bowling of Yandell. Restricting the opposition in the last ten overs was again challenging for the Henley attack, and the High Wycombe total may have been considerably less if it wasn’t for an unbeaten 42 from High Wycombe’s hard hitting number nine Downing, who ensured the High Wycombe total raced to 9-252.
Chris Ellison (43) provided a commanding start to the Henley run chase. The rest of the Henley top five which included the youth of Will Allum and 2nd team debutant Dan Hayden continued to build a solid platform and until the departure Jason Barber in the 33rd over, Henley looked in a promising position at 3-154. Barber, returning to Henley after a 6 year absence reminded the home fans of what they had been missing with an entertaining exhibition of hitting, before being caught at deep mid wicket for 54.
Henley lost their next six wickets for just 33 runs as the more experienced middle order fell apart plummeting to a disappointing 9-187. Henley captain Darren White was left stranded on 33 not out as his batting partners departed in quick succession. However, brave support was provided to White by Chamberlain in a 10th wicket partnership of 24. Chamberlain batted with a runner and appeared to bat through pain as he helped secure the final batting point for Henley by passing the 200 mark. He fell to a stunning one handed caught and bowled catch which concluded the Henley innings on 211.
Chamberlain is expected to be ruled out for several weeks with a groin injury, and his impressive seem bowling will be missed when Henley travel away to play the Cove 1st XI next weekend.
Henley 2nd XI returned with 9 points in the form of a losing draw after travelling to Basingstoke for the first outing in the top flight of the Thames Valley League. In a competitive match on a reasonable pitch, the Henley 2nd XI posted 9-215, 21 runs short of Basingstoke’s first innings total of 5-235. Despite the best efforts of Stewart Davison who started the league season with a superb 86, and 62 from newly appointed captain Peter Dean, chasing under pressure proved too challenging for the recently promoted Henley 2nd XI.
Basingstoke won the toss and elected to bat and their innings started swiftly with some elegant hitting from the Hampshire Academy wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Rouse. The introduction of Tim Chamberlain’s pace and bounce troubled the Basingstoke batsmen, and the guile and patience of Darren White drew an end to Rouse’s fine innings of 78 with an excellent catch by Smith at mid off. The Basingstoke middle order showed the value of resistance and patience against the Chambers – White bowling combination, accumulating runs at a miserly three runs per over until the entrance of Guyanese all rounder Dillon Heyliger saw the Basingstoke innings accelerate again. A good catch in the outfield by James Yandell saw the big West Indian depart after a quick fire 22 and the Basingstoke innings finished with a flurry of boundaries concluding with a 51st over declaration at 5-235.
After the loss of two early wickets, Dean and Davison’s partnership of 55 saw Henley into a promising position of 3-108 at the 28th over mark. After Dean’s departure Davison continued to build his superb innings, and until Andy White’s valuable middle order contribution of 17 was drawn to a premature end with a superb one handed diving effort from Hayliger square of the wicket, the match remained tightly poised with Henley requiring 72 runs from the remaining 11 overs.
However the Henley hopes faded as Davison fell with Henley still needing 48 runs from 7 overs with only 3 wickets in hand. A late unbeaten 17 from Simon Wheeler left the visitors a frustrating 21 runs short of victory.
The Henley 2nd XI proved that they are more than capable of challenging for the title this year and will look for an improved result this weekend as they host the High Wycombe 2nd XI at the Brakspear ground.
