H&CHCC Wins at Home Against Acton

H&CHCC 250 FOR 4 AFTER 40 Overs,

Roberts 92 Not Out, Hodge 60, B Atkinson 53

Acton 155 All Out

Moriarty 3 for 9


Acton won the toss and decided to put H&CHCC into bat with Hannan and Hodge opening the innings.

The opening pair used the guide lines of the club and proceeded to there customary 36 after the first ten overs with no wickets conceded and moved the scoring rate up and when Hannan was out for 18 and the score on 65 a very sound base was set and the fact that Acton had hoped for a few early wickets with the new ball had failed there afternoon then got slowly worse.

Captain Bryant the inform man went in at number three and scored his customary quick 11 in a partnership of 26 for the second wicket with Hodge who was timing the ball sweetly and looking set but 13 runs later he was caught behind for a very credible 60 but leaving H&CHCC on 104 for 3 when B Atkinson joined Roberts at a potential crucial time with a good start but it needed to be capitalised on to give the bowlers something to defend later.

The next hour of play was something to be greatly admired with Roberts playing his best innings for a while of controlled shots not his thrashing around and a return to form with his new Gunn and More bat of B Atkinson who shared a partnership of 122 with fours and sixes in there but there run a ball virtually the left and right hand combination took its toll on Acton as a few fielding mishaps came along the way in some very hot conditions.

Roberts passed his 50 as did B Atkinson but as he hit his eighth four and took his applause his concentration was compromised as he was bowled out for 53 in 39 balls and leaving the arena to great applause and H&CHCC on 226.

Roberts who was undoubtedly man of the match carried on going with Hamish Fiddes in support but with only a few overs to go with the incentive to keep an A Border quiet from wittering a load of rubbish [not the real A Border from Australia although we all felt he thinks he is!] got to 92 not out before the overs were up and accumulated a grand total of 250 for four.

Roberts innings was well timed and very cultured and his 92 came off only 52 balls not surprising that Acton had a "Hull City" moment of staying on the pitch for an inquest with arguments kicking off during the innings.

Now at H&CHCC we are spoiled with lots of good teas but I feel that today's teas from N Rutter and family members plus Jordan Marlow with Gus Walton Mum was very impressive and was appreciated by all like so many teas we have and a timely reminder that the tea ladies and gents do us very proud, thank you to you all.

After tea Acton started quickly and you could feel they thought they were in with a chance but up with the rate early on was costing them wickets both openers went for 16 with the total on 34 and 35 from the bowling of P Richards and Jack Armstrong who was finding something in the wicket and much more controlled.

Jack Armstrong took another two wickets in his ten over spell and the experienced P Richards taking another making it two for him in his ten overs.

Catches this week were being held and some were quite difficult as Acton continued to lose wickets especially when John Moriarty came on taking three wickets for only nine runs in 3 overs and effectively killing off any chance Acton had of making the H&CHCC total.

Fiddes and Walton came on at the end young Fiddes looks a very good prospect with bat and ball for one so young but it was an old young one of Walton getting the last wicket of Underwood and the game was won leaving Acton all out for 155.

Two wins in a row now and a very important home game next week to local neighbours Brockley and another performance like today with bat and ball should see a very exciting encounter up at the Richards oval.

Markie the Webmaster