2013 Match Report Hillingdon Manor

Good Day for the Bhatt as

Glenn Downs Hillingdon in Destructive Manor!

Hillingdon Manor CC Vs Pyestock CC

Sunday 8th September 2013

Weather Conditions: Overcast with patchy drizzle

Pitch Conditions: Wicket: Hard, Green and wet Outfield: Hard, Uneven, Fast

Match Type: 40 Overs, Bowlers limited to 8 overs each. 12-a-side

Glenn Taylor produced arguably his best performance in what has been a truly memorable season for the 20 year old, as a club record, unbeaten 172 placed Pyestock in a strong position in their inaugural match-up with Hillingdon Manor CC

A heavy rain shower delayed proceedings by an hour but fortunately play started at 1:30pm after stand in captain Chris Heath won the toss and elected to bat on a damp day.

 The late inclusion of regular captain Neil Butler proved a boost to the visitors as the match evolved into a 12-a-side contest, but the early headlines were handed to the Duce family as opening bowlers Stephen and Roger put the away side under early pressure.

It was the former that created the first real chance as Glenn launched a lofted drive down the ground where Aditya Bhatt failed to take a chance that was to prove costly.

In the fourth over Jon Ford edged Roger Duce to namesake Stephen in the slips to claim and early wicket, and only a very tight decision on a close LBW shout prevented the premier strike bowler a wicket he perhaps deserved.

After this frantic opening, in which Pyestock were somewhat lucky to survive with only one wicket lost, the pairing of Glenn and Vaughan Newcombe started to turn the screw and the 50 was brought up in only 6.1 overs as the venom seemed to disappear from the bowling attack. Glenn brought up his half century in only 30 balls as another big score beckoned.

The change bowling of Avish Jayamanne and Aditya Bhatt failed to conjure any change as the hosts struggle to control the run rate on a small outfield as the opener took the game by the scruff of the neck. The boundary was found with a scary regularity as Hillingdon Manor seemed to have no answer to the start Pyestock had made.

In the 18^th over, Bhatt, claimed the much needed wicket of Vaughan Newcombe as the batsmen was bowled for 36. This saw the run rate stabilise with only 7 runs coming from the next 3 overs, but by this time Dan had settled in and the visitors were still scoring at nearly 7 an over.

The introduction of Adam Harper to the bowling attack proved a baptism of fire as his first over saw Glenn bring up his 2^nd century in 3 weeks, after 2 seasons of suffering a bout of the nervous nineties, a boundary bringing up the three figures to the applause from both sides.

At the other end, Dan was playing some nice shots, but found his innings cut short in the 28^th over as Harper encouraged a pull shot that looped almost apologetically to Bhatt at short mid-wicket.

Pyestock brought up the 200 from Harper as Glenn found himself with his 4^th partner of the day in Jack Bromley. The pair looked to push on as the innings drew to a conclusion and really threw caution to the wind as Harper and Lloyd Papantoniou faced the wrath of the two in form batsmen.

The attention on the sidelines however was all on Glenn as the landmarks came thick and fast. A boundary from Papantoniou saw the opener pass his previous best score of 144, and then the 150 was passed 2 balls later. The next target was Neil Butler’s club record of 165 not out, secured against Badshot Lea in 2011, and the unconcerned younsgster calmly continued to add runs to his and his teams and achieved the feat with the last ball of the 39^th over.

There was still time for Glenn to score his 170^th run of the day which coincided remarkably with his 1,000^th of the 2013 season. He finished on an incredible 172 not out, and Jack Bromley 42 not out in an innings that lasted only 31 balls. It was a very impressive innings that was unfortunate to be overshadowed by the events at the other end.

Hillingdon Manor had bowled and fielded well, certainly better than 283 for 3 suggested but had a seriously tough assignment to overcome if the result was to go their way after the break.

The chase got off to a disastrous start for the hosts as Neil Butler found Simon Webb’s edge with only the third ball of the innings to draw a smart catch from Dan Heath in the slips. This set the tone for a cautious start from the west London side that saw only 10 runs scored in the opening 8 overs. In the same period, Chris Heath bowled the unlucky George Webb after the young opener dragged an off-side ball onto his stumps, before Neil set a smart trap for Joe Clifton who drove straight at Colin Butler.

This positive start from the visitors allowed Chris Heath to rotate his bowlers early, knowing there was still batting to come, wanted all options available to him as the need dictated. Ben Bromley and Taylor Newcombe were introduced as Bhatt and Perrett looked to restore some solidarity to the Hillingdon innings. Bhatt started cautiously but confidently, and honestly showed no hint of the devastation that he was due to cause. At the other end, a defensive Perrett was bowled by Taylor, and once new batsmen Stephen Duce was also bowed by Ben for 5 the chase looked hopeless at 35 for 5.

Aditya Bhatt though had other ideas and began to slowly accelerate to launch an all out assault on the Pyestock bowlers as the run rate began to slowly rise.

At the 20 over mark, Bhatt was working well with Captain Stuart Duce and the pair had hoisted the score to 95 for 5, still requiring 189 runs from 20 overs at a rate of nearly nine and a half an over.

Chris remained confident and turned to Jack Bromley and Dan Heath to try and oust the persistent and attacking duo. Jack provided the breakthrough as the score tipped over the 100 mark as Neil Butler clung onto a sharp catch at second slip as the captain departed for 28 made all the more impressive considering he was hampered throughout by a toe injury, not helped by Taylor Newcombe forcing the skipper to play a shot down onto the affected area early on in his innings.

Pyestock looked to press on from this point but Bhatt remained defiant, and passed 50 with a single pushed into the leg side from Dan. The spinner did dismiss Elliott Byrne thanks to a catch from Glenn and Jayamanne joined his free scoring partner at the crease.

This proved to be a healthy partnership for Hillingdon Manor as Bhatt excelled in his pursuit of the target. With Jayamanne handing the strike back to the dangerous number 4, allowing him to inflict maximum damage on the bowling figures of the Pyestock contingent.

Suddenly after a seemingly endless flurry of boundaries, the hosts had raced to 176 for 7 and required only 105 runs for victory in 7 overs. It was going to be a tough ask, but with Bhatt in fine form and already over the century mark, again well appreciated by both sides, a Pyestock victory was not written in stone.

Dan accounted for Jayamanne in the 36^th over as Glenn took his second catch of the day, but the danger man remained. Pyestock reacted by bringing back Neil Butler but when his first over went for 13 it looked increasingly likely that a grandstand finish was on the cards.

Hillingdon passed the 200 mark with 26 balls remaining and by this time the heroics of Bhatt were looking in vain and the man of the hour finally fell on his sword as a drive was skied to Glenn Taylor for yet another catch and effectively end the game as a contest.

Bhatt was applauded from the pitch, and Pyestock could finally breathe a little easier knowing that barring a total disaster they could celebrate their 11^th win of the season.

Chris McGovern was afforded his first bowling stint of the season, with a single over that cost 19 runs, but it mattered not as Hillingdon ended their innings on 233 for 9, 50 runs short of their visitors.

A match where 516 runs had been scored proved very entertaining and one that will live long in the memories of the side’s respective centurions Glenn Taylor and Aditya Bhatt. It is certain that Hillingdon Manor will be keen to exact revenge when the two sides hopefully meet again for another friendly afternoon of cricket.

Pyestock CC 283 for 3 (G.Taylor 172*)

 Hillingdon Manor CC 233 for 9 (A.Bhatt 129)

Pyestock CC win by 50 Runs

Pyestockcricketclub.co.uk Man of the Match: Glenn Taylor