Elstree got back to winning ways on Saturday, with an emphatic thumping of the bottom club Old Camdenians.

In baking heat, Rowland won the toss and asked the home team to bat in an attempt to secure maximum points, fearful that by batting first OC's might just defend in the second innings.

The strategy worked well. New ball bowlers Martyn Dunn (4-24) and Nauzar (0-14), bowled tidily, and it took a number of overs to be bowled before the first boundary was conceded.

Salim replaced Nauzar and took a wicket with his first ball, and then saw Barnett make a superb effort to repeat the dose next ball, only for the catch to go down.

By now the opposition were thinking they had seen off the openers and would get a respite, but, unfortunately for them, this was not the case, as regular opener Andy Green had missed the start of the game and was now able to bowl.

In his first over a sharp catch went down and from there on in he bowled tightly and with good pace on a flat wicket.

Eventually the breakthrough came and the floodgates opened, as he took two in three balls, then, a couple of overs later, two in two balls to leave him on a hat-trick again.

Although he failed to achieve it this time, he finished with superb figures of 5-15 and saw Dunn wrap-up the innings shortly after. It was an excellent bowling performance on a wicket where a target of 250 or more was more appropriate. Testimony as to how tidy and straight Elstree bowled was the five back-foot lbw's they achieved.

When Elstree batted, Duncan Rowland and young Nazeer combined well and played very sensibly to ensure no early slip-ups in pursuit of the small total.

Rowland was content to push the ones and twos, leaving his younger partner to play a superb array of shots. When the tea break came, they had accumulated 50 off just 11 overs.

Unfortunately for Rowland, he played a false stroke just after the resumption and was caught for a patient 15 when the score was 54, giving the hosts their only point.

Despite this, there were no fears about winning the game, as Ralph hit a rapid 26 not out and Nazeer completed his maiden 50 for the club to knock off the remaining 44 runs in just four overs. It was a good all-round team performance, resulting in a comprehensive win, which now takes Elstree 45 points clear of the drop zone, with three games to play.

Old Camdenians 97 all out

Elstree 100 for 1

Saracens Herts Cricket League Division Seven

August 21, 2002 14:30