Penn Street vs Chesham CC - Sunday 20th July 2025

Penn Street CC 184-9 (29.3 overs) - (D Adams 77, P Hewlett 42*)

beat

Chesham CC 181-3 (30 overs) - (D Adams 1-14, J Knox 0-27, A Adams 1-41)

by 1 wicket with 3 balls remaining.

(Apologies for the lack of names for the Chesham players, the writer found them vexing and wanted to go get a McDonalds).

Did anyone ask me to write this match report? No. Am I writing this because I hit the winning runs for the first time after claiming to be nonchalant about it? Maybe…

Day started off well with a delayed start time, I think through a combination of Chesham’s pitch and/or apparently alluring pubs with many overheard hangover complaints. This meant we all arrived on time…nearly, and set out for a 30 over a side match with the toss won and us to bowl first. 

At a prompt 14:02 we started play with a fiery and tight opening spell from Dave Adams (DA) (1-6 off 4). The strip we were playing on was far closer to a hedge-lined boundary, meaning throughout the innings it was a struggle to restrict runs over on that side. As well as to keep the ball in any condition other than “alright”, owing to the sodden ground. Nevertheless, Ed Hulme and DA combined to restrict them until Jeremy Knox (Knoxy) was brought on and the pressure caused a run out, coolly executed by Josie and Josh (the first couple to combine to take a wicket for Penn Street since Matt and Vish I think?).

This left them 30-2, before the rain kept the ground staff on their toes with a self-inflicted game of hokey cokey. We broke to have an early drink stop then an early tea. Once the ground was sufficiently dry and, more importantly, the sandwich supply had dwindled, we headed back out. They seemed to capitalise after tea, making us work hard in the wet outfield which changed the condition of the ball thoroughly into the “very naff” category.

Alex Adams built up some pressure with Knoxy and had their No. three getting caught out at the short boundary by Knoxy in a chop out position. This is where an excellent partnership formed between their now not-so-hungover four and five. Despite some good moves in the field they were targeting that short boundary with Josie and Phil’s first overs getting some treatment. Fortunately this meant the hedge captured our ball and we ended up with a replacement ball that still would have been rejected by the Indian men’s team or passed the hoop test but was definitely less naff. That allowed a wicket with Phil clipping the off-stump of No. five batsman. 

The southpaw (no. four) was still going well with the short boundary again being difficult to defend. Tempers were high but ultimately when we finished up we had set ourselves a target of 182 to win, needing 6 an over. We had done well and would have been looking forward to a well-earned tea. Instead we were out again straight away having eaten everything earlier and needing to get on with the game. 

Rob and Chris walked out to an aggressive and chirpy Chesham who went with a packed slip cordon despite missing a player for the first over. Rob capitalised on their folly and short pitched bowling to flay the ball for two boundaries and suddenly we were ten off one over. Excellent start. What could go wrong?

In the next over, Rob misjudged a drive to get caught at mid off, but Steve Smith played a Steve Smith like guided swivel pull for four to calm the nerves. 15-1. Next over Chris took a blow to body after some short bowling, and got cleaned up next delivery when the bowler found his length. 18-2. Ed fell the same way as Rob in the next over, bringing Chesham Boy Josh to the crease, with more chirp and chaos as we were now 20-3. The bowler, in the following over, again found his length and had Steve nicking a good ball to the keeper. 27-4.

Does anyone remember “I Need a Hero” by Bonnie Tyler? I believe she must have written this during a similar situation picturing Dave Adams strolling to the crease. His innings deserved to have that soundtrack. Especially when you learn the piano player for this track played it with so much intensity he bled all over the keyboard. But for now things were nervy and desperation for extra runs nearly led to a few run outs. After a good start from Josh he got cleaned up leaving us 38 for 5. Al then came in and they both stayed watchful. Things were looking up until Al got cleaned up with a ball that seemed to have kept low with the captain walking off saying “what chance have we got on this pitch?”. 

Bonnie was really screaming for her hero now, 59-6 off 11 overs. We had them for about 30 less runs at this point but needed a partnership as we were losing too many wickets to even dream of victory. Knoxy then strolled out wearing an injured wrist from nearly having his hand taken off earlier by their 81 not out bat. He was worried as his top hand wristy play was in jeopardy. Despite this, and the pain, he combined well with DA for 33 runs that let hope enter back into the hearts of Penn Street CC. Then he too was bowled by a quicker one that got through. 92-7.

For all those who are interested (probably only Cally), Phil averages terribly in the second innings. But as the crowd were slowly being bored to death through one of his long anecdotes, they were happy to see him stride the crease away. Fortunately the silly numbers held no sway and partnership grew, where both batters were able to punish the bad balls and run hard. Suddenly we were back in the game. We needed 22 runs off 32 balls when the opposition dug one in short, after some jeering from their supporters and back-to-back boundaries being hit. It had hit Dave on the jaw, with a seam mark to prove it. Jeremy ran on with the special medicinal ice in a tea towel. Was our hero down for the count? 

No, he stayed in and struck ten more runs before proving he was not only a hero but a gent, and walked after providing a faint edge to the keeper. 172-8. Phil had started well but was now beginning to struggle, he had hit three in the air, been dropped twice and was now scratching around. Despite this, it was their game to lose, ours to enjoy.

Joise and Phil kept it calm, chasing singles and getting within a boundary blow away from victory. Josie danced down the wicket and targeted that short boundary but fell short. It was the last ball of the penultimate over but we were now 9 down. 6 balls. 3 runs to win. Alex came to the crease ready to run hard. Phil swung so wildly off the first it made Jeremy shout from the boundary “Relax Phil!!!”. Phil clothed one through the covers next ball and Alex ran hard for 2. 

Scores level. Field in. Short boundary in sight. The bowler aims for stumps but misses his length and 26 balls after Phil’s last boundary, it hits the fence. We’d staged an incredible comeback. From dominating the first 10 overs of the first innings and having the luck turn on us, to having to scrap just to stay within a sniff. 

As a side note to this match report, I would have enjoyed my day with everyone regardless. But to get us a win at the end felt good. It was great to see everyone have a happy ending for all their efforts and to give back the joy they (and this club) always gives to me. 

Report written by: Phil Hewlett

Playing XI:

Rob Sutherland

Chris Edwards

Steve Smith

Ed Hulme

Josh Tollerfield (wk)

David Adams

Al Cossins (c)

Jeremy Knox

Phil Hewlett

Josie Groves

Alex Adams

Scored by Tilly Cossins and umpired by David Lander, who both deserve gratitude for documenting and running a great match.