Rickmansworth & Isambard Cricket Club

Rather like Gareth Gates, Rickmansworth and Isambard popped their league cherry in some style against a talented young Abbots Langley team.  And, rather like Gates’ own cherry popper, initial over-exposure in the top half of the innings was overcome by inevitable penetration later, resulting in a happy ending.

Connoisseurs of the game frequently cite the influence of the Twenty20 phenomenon on cricket at all levels.  Well, it was conspicuous by its absence in this match.  Instead, this Chess Valley Division Eight fixture was more of a celebration of cricket’s “entertainers” – Geoff Boycott, Chris Tavare, Mark Richardson and the like – curated by the League of Gentlemen.  Thus R&I struggled to reach 35-5 at around two an over, with even veteran ‘Disco’ Dave Malin – making his league debut at the age of 66 – failing to post more than a dour three runs.

Given a performance more akin to a sulky teenager in his bedroom listening the The Smiths than a limited-overs game of cricket, Sathish Baskar and Rohan Mahadik decided that the best way forward was some long handle.  Mahadik posted 14 before being run out, whilst Baskar really opened his shoulders to score a splendid 29. 

These efforts inspired Saheed Mahroof, inexplicably down at No.9, to score 36 not out from some clean and accurate hitting.  R&I’s league blind date was fortunately proving to be less Susan Boyle and more Girls Aloud (although probably still the ugly one).  A teatime score of 140-8 at least gave the hosts a chance, while Abbots Langley spent the interval wondering where the initiative had gone.  Perhaps to the same place as the laminated signs?

Rickmansworth and Isambard needed a good start – and, thanks to a blinding opening over from Baskar, they got it.  Langley were 3-2, with both openers back in the hutch for ducks.  All five bowlers used excelled, with debutants Mahadik and Tim Babi sharing five wickets between them.  Abbots Langley – a well-drilled young side with great potential – had no answer to the hosts’ pressure, and were dismissed for 68.  The league virgins had proven to be less Timothy Lea and more Tony Blake, as they successfully nailed their opponents.

R&I can be pleased with their league debut: sometimes you don’t put in the greatest overall performance, but can still get the points, as the immortal Ian Holloway once analogised.  The team will hope to carry that winning feeling into their next league match, at Harrow St.Mary’s on 3 July.