T’s travelled to Hurst Avenue N6 this week for the much anticipated “top of the table clash” with Hornsey, hitherto unbeaten in the league. The demolition of Shepherd’s Bush the previous week had given us the confidence we needed to go into such a game but we were apprehensive of the strength of the opposition and we had not been helped by having to make three late changes to our side which saw the evergreen Gil Sanchez and the Freeman brothers (Matt and Bobby) drafted in at a late stage. Despite the forecast of overcast cloud with possible showers the weather which greeted us was hot and sunny but a crossfield stiff breeze looked likely to assist the bowlers. An inspection of the Aloysius School Ground wicket revealed a dry “fluffy” surface with long boundaries and Parker maintained his toss-winning sequence and was more than happy to have the choice and promptly inserted the oppo. Other than our three late changes, sixteen year old seamer Mohit Garg was also making a first appearance for the T’s.

Phil Biggs and Garg took the new ball but the father and son opening partnership of Richard and George Charlton(6) started confidently for Hornsey. The difficult pitch made batting a slow process early doors and both openers for the T’s stiffened up their line and length and got themselves on top. Biggsy ended up as the unluckiest bowler of the day as he consistently found the edge and saw the resultant nicks bisect the frustrated fielders. Garg, whose age restricted him to six over spells, was confident in his own ability and was rewarded in the tenth over with the score on 29 as he got one to cut back and take young Charlton’s off stump. Hornsey’s Kiwi import then came to the crease but he only managed four balls as Garg produced another similar delivery which took a firm nick off the edge and Parker took a smart catch low down at second slip (33 for 2 off 12). The end of Garg’s first spell produced the master stroke which broke the back of the game. Biggs moved to Garg’s end to continue his spell whilst the left arm spin of Ajha Sahid was introduced to take advantage of both the surface and the cross wind.  The dangerous R.Charlton(32) had looked to force the ball at every opportunity and with Biggsy’s luck changing from the other end the 18^th over finally brought deserved success as another off-stump went cartwheeling (51 for 3 off 18). The experienced Johnny Bruce toiled hard in the face of Sahid’s bowling to protect his much younger partners but it seemed only “a matter of time”. Johnny took a brief respite with a single to the other end only for Biggsy to produce the “ripper” of the day to catch him plumb LBW (56 for 4 off 24). Phil Biggs’ mammoth effort (16o-4m-2w -64r) produced no more success but he had opened the floodgates for Ajha who was not slow in taking advantage.  His line, length, flight and elusive changes of pace were a class above anything the remaining Hornsey batsmen could cope with and apart from a hard-hitting 45 by Disanayaka at 7 for Hornsey the rest of the day belonged to Ajha Sahid. Two caughts, two LBW’s and two clean bowleds gave him immaculate figures of 19 overs 10 maidens 6 wickets for 18 runs. The Hornsey batters had held out bravely for 51 overs but were finally all out for 141. The bowling duties at the other end were completed by Howard McCann who had to bowl just four overs but finished creditably with 0wkts for 15 runs. A tremendous effort all round by the four bowlers used.

After tea, T’s opened with Blunden and Campbell. The Don took first ball up from Johnny Bruce’s accurate medium pace and pulses raced on the boundary as Bruce’s second delivery got Don trying to force the ball far too early and dollied one up for an easy catch at mid-wicket (0 for1 off 1). Nick Burgess then joined Blunden at the crease and there was a brief delay as the other opener for Hornsey wrenched his shoulder with his first ball and when Blunden dispatched his second attempt for a straight four runs he had to be replaced by Nick Giles. The opening bowling then settled down to a level of accuracy which restricted quick progress but the batsmen seemed to be settling. However, it was a big surprise when Blunden (16) nicked one to the keeper with the score on 20 in the eighth over.  Ajha Sahid then joined Burgess at the wicket. Nick has matured very quickly at the top of our order and was making quiet progress but the arrival of Sahid gave an impetus to the run chase. Both batsmen began looking for their shots and their running between the wickets slowly but surely broke the resolve of the opposing fielders. A series of injuries to fielders caused by hard-hitting and strong running did nothing to lift Hornsey’s confidence and the introduction of spin at one end completely released the shackles which the opening bowlers had managed to impose. Sahid’s straight driven half-volley fours (and sixes) were settling all the nerves on the boundary, complimented by some brilliant sweeping off the legs by Burgess. Suddenly we were careering towards our target and the boys looked to be racing each other for the first to reach fifty.  Heads were down in the field and with the score on 122 after 23 overs it was disappointment rather than panic when Ajha fell to a catch at deep mid-on with his individual score on 49 (jug avoidance some may say). Nick on the other hand was not to be denied and completed his well struck fifty soon after as Howard McCann joined him at the wicket with only 20 runs needed for victory. Our target was reached in the 25^th over with a second four from McCann (8 n.o.), Nick Burgess finishing unbeaten with a magnificent 57. The most important ten points of the season so far had been successfully bagged in a thoroughly impressive all round performance. 

We are now near the half-way mark in the season and it is interesting to reflect that by this time last year we had not won a game. Six wins from eight games have returned us back to the top of the table and there is now daylight between us on 61 points and fourth place on 41. But things are now very tight at the top with Wembley also achieving six wins and being only one point behind with Hornsey dropping to third on 58 points after this first defeat. But we have to take heart that our next two games are at home and we should be looking to consolidate our position in the promotion places.

Special mention this week  is reserved for the three lads who came in at short notice and performed admirably in a tense game. Gil and Bobby performed heroics in the outfield, though how Gilly managed a cut to the BACK of his hand whilst attempting a catch off one of Biggsy’s “lifters”, can only be explained by himself! Matt Freeman had a great game behind the stumps and it is a mystery how his keeping technique has actually improved after his spell away at University!! They cannot be getting up to the same things that we did at University – well played lads.

Phil Parker.