Rickmansworth & Isambard Cricket Club

Isambard returned to winning ways in their first match for almost a month against previously-unbeaten opponents Wimbledon United.  May's soggy weather was soon forgotten as a hot and sunny day saw a good turnout of spectators and WAGs to watch their team in action.  Isambard did not disappoint.

Captain Dermot Steedman won the toss and batted first for the 52nd match in succession, opening with himself and Andy Hankin.  Isambard started well against some accurate seam bowling, reaching 62 from twelve overs for the loss of their skipper.  Dave Bywater was then bowled by a good ball, before Hankin fell to an absolutely unplayable delivery (I was umpiring, and I swear it turned three feet).  This brought out debutant Ric Firth to join Mark Wembridge.

Having got off the mark with a four, Firth then smacked an almighty six, which hit the roof of a car via a nearby tree.  Firth's overexcitement against some fairly mediocre spin bowling nearly caused his downfall as he was badly dropped; he then concentrated on hitting the ball hard but away from any fielders.  Firth and Wembridge put on 106 for the fourth wicket, with Mark playing the Boycott to Ric's Botham.

After Wembridge's anchor role, Isambard's batting collapsed as the seamers were reintroduced.  Firth, Paul Kerr, Paul Bailey and debutant Ramy Soliman quickly perished as 190-3 became 195-8. Tom Spencer - whose runs here last year had helped save Isambard - and Scotty O'Brien scored a dozen runs apiece, before Jon Taylor's dismissal took the visitors to a 'double-Nelson' total.

Isambard enjoyed the usual excellent tea during the interval, whilst the spectating WAGs took the opportunity to support the local off-licence by replenishing their supplies of lager and cider.  Faced with a large total, the home side couldn't get on top of some miserly seam bowling from O'Brien and Spencer.  Alas, Scotty's metronomic efforts inspired only a stream of sarcasm from the WAGs, especially his missus; Lord only knows what would have happened had he been carted round the park.

Kerr came on for Spencer up the slope, while Bywater replaced O'Brien, who returned figures of 7-2-18-1.  Bywater then proceeded to remove the middle-order, who had no answer to his accurate seam bowling, while Paul Kerr continued last season's form with his left-arm spin.  Kerr took 2-24 in his seven-over spell, and would have had a couple more wickets with a little more luck.  He was replaced by Paul Bailey for a cameo over, in which he took two wickets, the first to a splendid catch from O'Brien.  All that remained was for Bywater to trap the No.11 lbw to claim his first five-wicket haul for the club - a good way to celebrate becoming a father two weeks previously.  He becomes, oddly enough, the third Isambard bowler to return 5-14.

An excellent all-round effort from Isambard, where a good batting performance was followed by excellent and enthusiastic fielding.  In his first match for a few years, Soliman kept well against a variety of bowling on a difficult track.  This was a comprehensive win against good opponents, of which the team should feel proud.