10th May 2025 - HBCC 1st XI vs Newton Hill (A)
Two from two for HBCC 1st team!
After losing the toss (again - I’m not sure cricket has ever seen a worse tosser than D. Nicholson) NHCC decided to have a bat on a hard early-May deck. A. Shahid and J. Waring took the new ball. A. Shahid got straight into his work, utilising some early movement with the new cherry, taking 2 wickets in the very first over including the dismissal of NHCC’s talisman R. Harris. J. Toulson then steadied the ship for NHCC putting away the odd loose ball, until A. Shahid used all his skill and craft to bowl A. Radhakrishnan and J. Toulson. A. Shahid, the pick of HBCC’s bowlers, then took a well earned rest in hot conditions (A. Shahid 4-17). J. Waring was unlucky to not come away with any wickets following a neat and tidy opening spell, the rewards are sure to come throughout the season if he continues to bowl with the same control. A. Waterson and S. Perkin then entered the attack with B. Samuel on the counterattack for the home side. A. Waterson got a breakthrough with his first ball and took another couple of quick fire wickets in his 4 over spell (A. Waterson 3-14). Sadly S. Perkin couldn’t repeat his exploits from week 1, but the wily old fox is sure to come back stronger. Cometh the hour, cometh the man; with B Samuel bludgeoning the ball to all parts, D. Nicholson turned to HBCC’s trusted premier spinner B. Terry having been quiet in the season opener. B. Terry was hit for a few lusty blows early on before he started to spin his web (although I’m not sure he actually managed to turn a ball…). B Terry got the key wicket of B Samuel (28) and followed it up with another couple, to finish with impressive figures (B. Terry 3-23). B. Terry’s figures could have been a lot better had he not put down a regulation opportunity off his own bowling, he’ll be working on his catching during the next training session for sure. HBCC managed to bowl NHCC all out for 115, which was slightly below par due to some good bowling and some fantastic ground fielding from T. Womersley and F. Saleem in particular.
D. Nicholson and HBCC’s stalwart A. Grogan opened up the chase. D. Nicholson smashed a few early boundaries before being dismissed. K. Baig then joined the watchful A. Grogan to navigate HBCC to 43-1. For the second time in as many matches, A. Grogan was then run out, something K. Baig knows he needs to work on a little bit. As for the rest of K. Baig’s batting, there’s very little the genius needs to work on! K. Baig took centre stage knocking HBCC’s first half-century of the season to lead the team to victory (K. Baig 52*). K. Baig mullered a couple of big sixes, including one out of the ground, in his batting masterclass. A. Shahid (21) offered excellent support during the chase unfurling a couple of classy cover drives which helped HBCC to the target.
HBCC 1st team won by 5-wickets taking home the maximum 16-points on offer.
Player of the match was awarded to K. Baig for his efforts with the bat, but was run very close by A. Shahid whose wickets and runs helped put HBCC in a commanding position. A special shoutout to R. Joyce in his first game for the 1st team this season, he put in 110% effort in the field which helped secure the maximum points for the club.
Thanks to NHCC who are a great bunch of lads that we had many laughs with, we wish you all the best for the season and look forward to the return fixture in July!
Report by A. Waterson
