Penn Street vs Hawridge and Cholesbury

Penn Street 258-10 (C. Fletcher 74, C. Herriott 68, J. Mendy 63; S. Knight 3-14) beat Hawridge and Cholesbury 147-10 (M. Hamblin 48; P. Lofty 2-7, J. Mendy 2-13) by 111 runs

As always, the final match of the season was against Hawridge & Chorlesbury on their beautiful ground up on the Chiltern Ridge. This match is played for the Colin Parry Trophy, yet it is a match that, despite coming close on a number of occasions, we have never won in the ten or so years of its existence. Not any more, though…

Hawridge are a good league side, and despite not playing their semi-professional Sri Lankan contingent, they have a lot of decent players, including Loughborough University’s opening bat who also opened the bowling.

Two balls was all he needed to dismiss Steve Smith, bringing Jack Mendy to join Fletch at the crease. Now, one might have imagined that the previous day’s exertions (plus post-match celebrations) would have been a bit much for Jack – but not a bit of it. He raced to 63, scoring his first 50 off a mere 32 balls before falling to a smart catch. Meanwhile Fletch was batting carefully, and when Chris Herriott came to the crease Penn Street were 109 for 4. Cherriott had made it into double figures for the first time this season the day before, and was arguing for October cricket after the match as he crashed a very rapid 68 off 45 balls, including 4 sixes off the short boundaries. Despite being overtaken, Fletch upped the pace and his 74 came off 80 balls, so that by the time Penn Street were all out, we had raced to 258 off 39.2 overs.

That was a good score, but not out of reach on a small ground with a very flat track. Not flat enough for Jack Mendy, though, who had skittled through the first two batsmen before tea was taken after 4 overs.

After the best tea of the season, Jack was bowing with fire and pace – too much pace for Fletch, though, keeping wicket. A quick one rushed through and, well, shall we say, skittled Fletch middle stump. He flew up into the air and landed motionless on his head. Needless to say he garnered the usual degree of sympathy on such occasions, despite being in obvious agony. With the umpire

calling “one ball left” behind him, he left the field to throw up, before bravely returning despite walking like John Wayne on an invisible horse.

Jack took the gloves, but the Penn St pace barrage continued, with Tyler and Cherriott joining the party. Loughborough University opener looked menacing, but fell to an inspired direct hit from Tyler Armiger. That proved the end of the resistance. Pete Lofty and Chris Herriott cleaned up most of the tail, before Dan Taylor came on and snaffled one wicket for no runs on his Penn St debut. Hawridge & Cholesbury not just beaten but comprehensively stuffed by 111 runs.

After a generous barbecue from our hosts, a proud captain Chris Fletcher walked gingerly up to collect the Colin Parry Trophy. And, as the temperature soars into the high twenties for the first time for months, with 16 wins to 15 losses, our best return for years, we say goodbye to season 2011, and look forward to Bingo, and Dinner Dance, and two weeks of pitch-prep.

Man of the Match: C. Herriot