24th May 2025 - HBCC 1st XI vs Oulton CC (H)
The HBCC 1st team juggernaut keeps rolling on and move to four wins from four matches to begin the season!
First Innings
With the 2nd team not in action (bye week), the 1st team had a great opportunity to hand out debuts to youngsters Heald and Smales who have started off the season in terrific form for the 2nds.
Nicholson kicked things offs by doing the unthinkable; he managed to win his 1st toss in only his third season as captain at the club - massive congratulations to him on this momentous achievement! Nicholson had to wipe his nose bleed before then taking the decision for HBCC to bat first.
Waterson and Womersley, a newly formed opening partnership was sent in to set a platform with HBCC’s stalwart Grogan absent. Both players had earned the opportunity following Waterson’s scratchy 24 not out and Womersley’s solid 1 in the previous match against HMWCC’s 2nds. The whippets got straight into their work, with lots of aggressive running and put away the loose balls where they were offered. The pair raced to their 50 partnership in 9 overs in composed fashion. Womersley then took it upon himself to be the aggressor and started to show his fluency, hitting a couple of lusty sixes. Unfortunately, Womersley was then slightly too aggressive and was dismissed going after a full delivery, scoring a quick fire 42 to leave HBCC in a good position after the 81 run first wicket stand. The ever dependable Baig joined Waterson in the middle and they continued to put pressure on OCC by running hard and picking up singles regularly. Waterson brought up his first half-century of the season and Baig quickly followed suit with one of his own. Baig then began to free his arms and smashed three beautiful sixes. Waterson and Baig both offered up a chance to OCC but managed to ride their luck, until Baig was caught out for 75, concluding a great 134 stand with Waterson for the second wicket. Shahid then joined Waterson in the middle as all eyes turned to Waterson to see if he could capture his third century for the club. Unfortunately (or fortunately for anyone who has to spend time with him), Waterson had a lapse in concentration and judgement and tried to run a quick single to mid off, however, was run out following a worldie direct hit from Pickard dismissing Waterson for a hard earned 93. With the bottle job departed, this gave Heald the chance to show his talents to PDCL Division 1. Shahid continued his assault on OCC’s bowling attack, hitting half a dozen huge sixes. Steadfast Insurance Brokers, one of HBCC’s long term sponsors, was very nearly in business, with Shahid on the warpath; one of his sixes came within a matter of inches of a car driving down Storrs Hill Road. Heald played rotated the strike and played some fine strokes before being caught out trying the up the ante late in the innings. Nicholson joined Shahid for the final couple of overs as the fireworks continued; Shahid finished his innings with a blistering 64 not out, striking at well over 200 in the process.
HBCC finished on 302-4 off their 46 overs, achieving full batting points and putting up their highest batting total in at least 5-years.
Second innings
The deadly duo (Shahid and Waring) took the new ball. Now before we get into the specifics of this match, I’d like the weekly readers to have a think about a nickname for this duo, as we need one that does them justice (e.g. Batman and Robin, Bonnie and Clyde, etc) - please send suggestions through to me and I’ll select my favourite in next weeks report. Anyway, the deadly duo did what they do best and again made early inroads into OCC’s top order. Waring again got a wicket in his first over, finding some great shape and bowling a disciplined line and length. Shahid then managed to get the ball talking himself, and got in on the act. Shahid finished his spell with 3-11 to back up his performance with the bat. Waring then got to work with the middle order and took wickets at regular intervals to secure his first five-for of the season 5-12. The lads in the field offered great support to the bowlers, Saleem the Dream took a smart catch, as did Hussain and Baig. Nicholson also took a couple of sharp catches in the slips. However, this is not Nicholson’s first rodeo so he knows that we strive for perfection at HBCC and that his drop in the slips is going to get a mention. In unusual fashion for Nicholson, he managed to get two hands to a chance from Shahid, the whole team went up in celebration but the ball managed to wriggle through his fingers. The ball was then thrown to the prodigious Smales for his first spell of leg spin in the 1st team. In what was rather alien to watch for the majority of the first team, Smales was getting the ball to rag straight from the get-go, unlike we are accustomed to see from first team regular off-spinner Terry. Hussain joined Smales at the other end and found an immediate breakthrough in his first over with a peach, finishing with figures of 1-2. Smales was eyeing up his first wicket and delivered the killer blow to get his first wicket on debut and to bag the win for HBCC; Smales finished with 1-9.
OCC were dismissed for 35 all out from 14.4 overs, giving HBCC a 267-run victory and maximum points.
Player of the match
It was awarded to Waterson for setting the platform with the bat, but was pushed closely by the ever consistent Shahid for his great all round performance (again). Also, a special shoutout to Heald and Smales who showcased their skills on the day, they have very bright cricketing careers ahead of them and we cannot wait to see them grow at the club in the coming years!
Best of luck to Oulton for the rest of the season, the game was played in great spirit but unfortunately they had several key players missing due to a wedding within the cricket club. We expect a much closer game in the return fixture later in the season!