Annual Team Reports

1st XI - Sam Musk Following the winning streak at the end of last season, we were keen to improve in all areas and particularly do well in the cups. To finish the season 3 rd in the league, reach the last 16 of the Evening Standard and win the Bucks Cup was a great achievement along with the success of our other sides this season! We started promisingly with a brilliant victory away at Ealing but valuable lessons were learnt after losing heavily to Thame. The first league victory was secured against North Maidenhead. Despite being bowled out for 130, we threw caution to the wind and managed an unlikely win thanks to Shakhil Ahmed's quite brilliant 6-55! The real confidence booster was Tring's only defeat of the season away in the Evening Standard. A brilliant all round performance in the field saw the home side held to under 160 runs with 3 wickets apiece for Mahood, Gurnell and Musk, and despite our best efforts to beat them too easily, Lynchy Snr managed to bring home the bacon padding out two deliveries with the scores level but with fewer wickets lost. A few difficult matches ended in defeat despite some battling performances including three superb catches by Jon Mahood against Farnham and a brilliant fifty by Chris Thomas against Bicester. The same game saw the loss of the captain for several matches to a badly dislocated finger and we were unlucky not to end up winning. The introduction of club playboy Greg Mann into the team was timely after being spotted by our team of international scouts playing for... the 3 rds . Greg combined well with Paul Sylvester and bolstered a struggling batting side. Mike Stafford scored a supreme match-winning century against Aston Rowant, triggering the start of an excellent six game winning streak including a last wicket victory over NPL Teddington. We struggled to bowl out the home side and dropped six catches before another 5-wicket haul for Shak and 4 stumpings for Sam Sandeman-Allen gave us a reachable total. Another collapse eventually saw the game won by a Mahood honk going through the hands of the fielder for the winning boundary! A week later another unbelievable bowling performance saw Mohammad Sarfraz take 6 wickets against former club Burnham including a hat-trick, bowling them out for an amazing 74 with only 97 to defend. Revenge was exacted on Thame with Pete and Steve Lynch together in a brilliant stand, securing a 5 wicket victory and suddenly the season was looking great. Sadly our batting frailties would come back to haunt us in three successive defeats including a narrow 9 run loss in the last 16 of the Evening Standard. With a useful prize at stake, despite some battling efforts we could not quite scrape over the line but can be proud of our performance against a very strong Hampstead side. The positive change in direction of the club was evident; for on the same day the 2 nd XI, masquerading as the 1 st XI, beat Marlow Park to advance us in the Bucks Cup, an excellent achievement considering High Wycombe were unable to do the same. We held our hands up and congratulated local rivals Gerrards Cross for a brilliant score against us but we could not quite show enough grit to hold on for valuable bonus points - but all would change in due course! We ended the season in style being unbeaten in 9 matches. With the skipper now returning, back to back centuries from Greg and Pete helped to shore up the batting and help us advance up the table. We lost Shak to a nasty cheekbone injury but continued winning ways with league doubles over Aston, NPL and Burnham. We shot up the table and ended up an excellent 3 rd , Shak and Saffy amassing nearly 100 wickets between them. Suddenly the side were playing as a team and hitting a real run of form with everyone was performing in all areas. The team went into the Bucks Cup Semi against Burnham full of confidence, strong and vocal in the field and batters in form. As was often the case wickets were shared around and restricted the home side to just 146. Paul Gurnell and Pete forged a brilliant century stand, with Gurns finishing an excellent all round performance with a superb 81 and into the final we marched. The final was played against Gerrards Cross at their ground in wet conditions. The best opening stand of the season saw Jimmy Skitt score a fantastic 80 with Mike Stafford chipping in a quick-fire 35 and Paul Sylvester (hitting form in the last match of the season) smashed the ball to all parts at the end of the innings. A score of 225-6 off 45 overs looked to be an interesting target before rain abandoned the game. The replay a week later saw a change in personnel but the toss lost once again. This time our batters found things a little more difficult. Another good start then saw the middle order struggle with only Pete Lynch really dominating a good bowling performance. Will Carter returning from injury found things a little more to his liking and together with Denzil Owen put on over 50 priceless runs for the last wicket, finishing with an under par but competitive 199 all out. Weather this time wouldn't be an issue but a strong fielding display was vital to our chances and slowly our bowlers took a grip on the game, Denzil and Staffs particularly miserly with the ball. Wickets were slowly eked out and backed by a group of keen Beaconsfield supporters, two vital further wickets during a brilliant spell from Man of the Match Will Carter put the home side behind the run rate. It was left to Jon and Gurns to wrap up the remaining overs and Denzil to steal the show with an unbelievable direct hit and an super diving catch. The Bucks Cup was ours and we finished with a satisfying end of season for all! What has been particularly pleasing this year is the enthusiasm of my team-mates to want to play and get involved. Whether it's to regularly train, to play or to enjoy themselves socially in the club atmosphere, it's something that has really stood out. To see such regular attendance at training together with a real desire to work hard to improve their game is something all players in all sides should be proud of. I look forward to seeing the results of the hard work the Colts organisers are putting in and good to see colts mixing and playing with the Senior sides when available. Next season looks promising with the club hopefully reaping the rewards in stronger leagues for the 2nds and 3rds. The side is very youthful and will look to the likes of Pete Lynch, Jon Mahood, Jimmy Skitt, Chris Thomas, Sam Sandeman-Allen and Greg Mann to make a consistent impact. We hope to welcome Paul Gurnell and Rob Bentall back during the season and hope all current players will continue in the new buoyancy at Wilton Park. I would like to thank groundsman Percy for his continued support, particularly aiding midweek training out in the middle. Thanks to Fred Noyes for his great company as scorer each game, and Ed and Tef for their help during the summer. Thank you John Fleming who is stepping down this year as Club Captain after a phenomenal 40 years service to the club. We hope that Steve Lynch will enjoy this new role. Also a big thank you to every person to help the club in some way, whether it is in the committee or with your tea duty - thank you for your time. One key point to enjoying cricket at Beaconsfield is actually having fun with your mates there, and we had a few amusing moments this season! These included Chris Thomas' brilliant 140* but then failing keep his eyes on a catch as it klumped him on the bonce; magnifique vomitous hangovers by Gilmour and Sandeman-Allen; having an Aussie to chuckle at every Saturday night during the Ashes; Chunders for still smiling despite having more ducks than a Chinese emperor; Lynchy Snr for being called a fossil by a tubby northern midget; watching Merv Dillon's moon-bowling in the 3rds next to us; listening to Stafford all weekend; Sandeman-Allen: Absent Ill - bowled Kebab; and Doc for laughing hysterically whilst Master Thomas was rolling round clutching his head. Finally I hope everyone can spare a few hours of their year to help during our NatWest CricketForce day on Sunday April 9 th . By giving a little of your time we can efficiently do some jobs together that make your season more pleasant by improving the ground and facilities. Winter training is proving very popular at the excellent Beaconsfield High School, please see the club's website for details. Good luck in 2006!

2nd XI - Geoff Watts

Well what a difference a year makes. 2004 was a summer in which the Olympics went home, Kevin Pietersen was just another cricketer, Football was the nation's summer sport as Greece won the European championships and Beaconsfield CC was in disarray with only 2 sides for most of the league season and the 2 nd XI unceremoniously relegated from division 2. In 2005 it was the turn of the Ashes to come home, Pietersen was found to be a bit handy, Greece didn't qualify for the world cup, cricket supplanted football as the nations favourite game, and the 2 nd XI dominated the league not losing a single game.

At the start of the year promotion was set out as the only acceptable outcome and a target of 300 points was given to the side. Buoyed by strong early season availability and the arrival of some new talent to bolster the side of two year's ago, many of whom were to be significantly more available than the previous year, the 2nds got off to a great start. Without doubt the key player for the first couple of games was Aussie Alan Pratt who announced himself on the league with scores of 117*, 144*, 109*, 67*, 1 (he swears he was fingered!) and 99* which when added to a pre season 106* made for an early season average that many other Aussies in the country could only dream of. Whilst it would be fair to claim that the side looked a little reliant on Alan in these first games, the bowling - spearheaded by the ever green Denzil and the Doctor performed admirably to restrict opposition scores, whilst the other batsmen (when they got in) provided Alan with solid partners for his run gathering (most notably Dave Hurley who helped the side chase 268 for the loss of only 6 wickets against an Odiham side who were to be one of the other title challengers (well challengers for 2 nd place)).

It was in the fourth match that the 2nds dropped points for the only time in the year. Having been inserted (for the one and only time all year) the side posted a score of 231-4 against Maidenhead (with the most notable contribution coming from Snakes who was eager to have his first bat in the 5 th game of the year - this knock included a six into a neighbours garden that was fortunately prevented from travelling too far by the bonnet of the car in the drive). The bowling attack, despite some early inroads, then found an unadventurous Maidenhead pairing focused on the draw and not a win. This was to the frustration of both sides and once the partnership was ended a flurry of runs and wickets, Denzil had only 5 balls to get the last man out. Alas we failed, but not without amusement as the number 10 turned down a single claiming that there was no point in the runs by that stage whereupon the number 11 kindly pointed out that given that he had a broken hand and that as, hitting a ball hurt a lot, a single would have been quite pleasant....

The following weeks saw easy wins over Falkland, Harefield (a game most noted by no one watching for a period as the attraction of Australia being beaten by Bangladesh proved too great for many), Kew, and Thatcham. The highlights of these games saw Mickey hit form, Will collapse in a heap unable to move, Doc get the side's first 5 fer of the year, Imran reach his first 50 of the season and a spectacular diving catch from yours truly!. So halfway through the season and the side was on target for 300 points and had been top of the league from game 1.

By the time the side faced everyone again, Alan was a marked man and the side, which seemed to get stronger by the week, had been identified as title favourites against whom the best option was to bat first to score more bonus points as a win was unlikely. So it proved as all players began to perform - runs flowed from Will (101* vs. Odiham), Stewie, Mickey and Alan. Whilst, Denzil, Doc, Tom, Will, Milo and Geoff restricted the runs throughout the year (with cameo appearances from Mickey, Alan, Musky and Nik). Unfortunately the one true test the side faced, Falkland away, was rained off as many were looking forward to a real competition.

So with 2 games to go, we went to Kew needing 5 points to win the title. These were easily secured as the side bowled well to dismiss Kew for 134 (with wickets for TC and Doc) and Will took the final catch at deep midwicket to much delight. As always the batting was solid if a little uncertain on a very slow and low track, though James Cousins made an excellent 50 in his first game for the club. In the final game, on a nice sunny September day, we elected to bat for the first time in the year and, with a batting order drawn out of a hat, posted the highest score of the year (288-8). Not surprisingly this was easily defended and Thatcham were bowled out for 141 with Mickey taking the Dennis David role of bowling very tasting looking pies that turned out to be less tasty once hit to the fielders. This left the side with an enviable record of 14 wins, 1 draw, 3 rained off and no losses (total 326 points) and the only thing to do was to retire to the bar and some limbering up ready for the sight that is Lynchy on a dance floor.

Overall it was a great season, though some slightly more competitive cricket would have been nice. It was nice to see the longer term members of Mickey, Doc, Denzil, Snakes, Will, Geoff, Stewie, Hugh, Milo and Phil joined by some new blood in Alan, Andy W, Tom, Oli, and James who in turn were supported by a range of colts in Imran, Simon Larter, Nik, and Alan Wilson. Thanks must also go to all who supported the side in many other roles: Martin Watts and Mike Brown for umpiring, Naj Alikahn for driving and scoring, all the people who made teas, Phil who grew the grass to make the pitches and of course Ron for his undinting support during the year - which I believe made up for the cricket we made him watch the year before!

Finally, I thought it would be worth picking out some highlights of the year. In no order they include: Alan hitting a car on the A40 and giving Lynchy something to do in the one game he played for the 2nds (sorry you lost your temper Steve, but it did set a nice precedence for the 1 st team skipper to bat at 8 when making his come-back - thanks Musky!); the friendly spirit in the game against Harefield when Denzil turned up halfway through and shouldn't technically have been allowed to bowl; Doc's catch off his own bowling; Phil's batting, offering the side an insight into what golfers really mean by being under par; the attempts of Alan and Phil to keep wicket when Stewie and Hugh weren't around; Alan being dropped on 10 then scoring 144; the gentle rousing the side received the day after the Lords' test match; Geoff's one and only innings of the year; Alan's different batting style when his Dad flew in; and most of all the spirit with which the team approached each and every game. Hopefully, next year will provide more of the same, but with the cricket being a bit more testing. Thanks to all!

3rd XI - Dan Gowers

The Beaconsfield 3 rd team had a great success in the 2005 season, winning their league. This is an unbelievable turnaround after 2 years of demotions in the league through lack of players. The team spirit was excellent amongst the team players and something that I hope can continue for the 2006 season. I would like to personally thank all players, through out the club, who contributed to the 3 rd team success. Some 49 people played through the season, including guest appearances from the 1 st team skipper Sam Musk (returning from injury at the time) and several of the other senior side players. Greg Mann had to be dragged out of the 3 rd team straight into the 1 st team, as he was in danger of beating all club averages after playing a few games for the 3rds in the early season. I did ensure I always declared prior to him getting to a 150! We even managed to drag Paul Dolphin from the golf course on a couple of occasions! On a serious note, it showed that finally Beaconsfield had strength in depth of players which allowed the 3 rd team to consistently win. I am sure this will continue into the coming season ahead....

I would like to thank a few individuals, firstly to Chas Sagoo, for umpiring the 3 rd team games on several occasions. This certainly was not always the most glamorous of umpiring duties, especially with games such as Slough away on council pitches with the ball flying all over the place and games ending in darkness with slow over rates. I was grateful for him helping and also his guidance around the colts within the side. It was great to see some of the colt players coming through and making positive contributions to the senior set up. John Mahood was also critical in terms of coaching and development of the colts this year and thanks also for pulling together the averages and stats with Ed. In addition, I would like to personally thank Percy for the excellent batting strip he prepared on the second team pitch. In fact as a bowler it was too good to bowl on after the new ball was a few overs old! Many of the opposition captains commented to me that the 2 nd team pitch is the best batting square they have played on all season.

Thanks also to Chris Mann (Gasman) for the help in organizing the team week in week out. His batting performances this year were certainly not Viv Richards in style, but his slower ball took several key wickets. His 25 wickets throughout the season were critical for the success of the team. I can personally say that I took a few catches at deep mid wicket as the opposition batsman thought 'Christmas had come early' and did not quite get hold of Chris' bowling. Gasman is a deceptive clever operator; if you get the line and length wrong at his pace then you are going for runs. Chris proved that even against better batsman in the MCC game and cup games that he could still hold his own and bowl tightly and take wickets. It was also good to see that he bought some new cricket gear this year and came into the 21 st century!

Thanks also to John Carr for standing in as captain on a few occasions, he really showed his class with his tight aggressive bowling and good to see his competitive edge has not been lost. I hope that we can get a few more good seasons from John. He deservedly topped the bowling averages this year with 26 wickets. His highlight performance was a 6 wickets haul against Slough who were one of the best sides in the league. In fact that day, he had to be removed from the bowling attack to allow Slough to try and make a game of it. John was delighted that Gasman was behind him in the averages, (by only 1 wicket) in fact I am sure John may have dropped the odd catch of Gasman's bowling through the season, let's hope that was not on purpose John! Gasman did beat John on his strike rate (balls per wicket) who would have thought!

Final thanks to Steve Lynch and Hugh Suter for helping out with their guidance and showing their years of cricket experience. The highlight for me was there batting in tandem in the away fixture against OMT's. Taking advantage of some weak opposition bowling, they were having a real battle to which 'old head' could get to a 100 first. Steve eventually won this race although Hugh Suter was running some of the sharpest singles like a real terrier! (I am sure he was not really trying to run out Steve) Steve was also showing his years of experience by stealing the strike off the final ball of the over! I think the opposition bowlers could have been put off by Steve's dodgy moustache that he had been growing for a fancy dress party that evening!

In terms of the 2005 season - things did not actually start too well with a loss against an OMT's side at home, Beaconsfield fielded a weak 8 man team. I am glad to say this was the only time of the season that we lost due to a lack of players. Beaconsfield made a good battle of the game with Hugh Suter scoring a fine 90, but Beaconsfield just did not have enough players to make a competitive game. This was one of the few failings of the season and we must ensure that the 2006 season that everyone is available early in the season which I am confident will happen. Beaconsfield were only going to lose won other game of the season, in a closely fought game against Hampton Hill, where over 500 runs were scored on an excellent second team home pitch. Throughout the season Beaconsfield took advantage of the points scoring system by batting first and gaining maximum 25 winning points where possible.

It was also good to see batting in strength throughout the season. Time and time again the late middle order put together runs. Gaz Hussain at times hit the ball harder then anyone I have seen. His bat was certainly very wide and had a great middle. In one innings he struck 83 of probably less than 50 deliveries a great powerful knock, in the same game against Chiswick, Tom Lee weighed in with a 50. Both Gaz and Tom were crucial to the middle order batting and also took wickets and filled in with bowling duties when required.

We also had the "one game wonders", James Harrington appeared for one game. I think he was frightened of playing anymore games in case he had to pay annual subs, or he did not want to reduce his batting average by playing again. He contributed 98 runs in a game and was never seen again; let's hope he can make a more regular appearance for the coming season. Stewart Gilmour was another man to have a big impact in a single appearance for the 3 rd team. In a shortened game against Slough due to rain, it looked like things were heading for a draw until he hammered 120 in double quick time to get Beaconsfield home for a win prior to rain appearing again and the bar was opening!

Ed Dillon showed why he was the premier spinner of the side and on one occasion scored a crucial 44 batting down the order to save Beaconsfield from an embarrassingly low total against Marlow Park. Chris Price took wickets but was unlucky not to take more wickets through out the season. He was not available to play all games, but his awkward bowling angle often confused opposing batsman and he frustratingly missed the outside edge time and time again. He still managed to take 14 wickets through out the season at an average of 20.

Beaconsfield team was strengthened by Justin Cole, who joined mid way through the season. This gave the team a solid proper opening bat, Justin could stick around for long periods of time and anchor the innings. He also showed his skills with the wicket keeping gloves. The gloves were warn for a large proportion of the year by Teflon, who showed he still had the skill to take some sharp catches of John Carr and Pricey's bowling. However he seemed to like the melons at tea all too much!

There are so many other people I could highlight but I think it is only right that I make some comments around the colts success. "Banger" Nik Bahtia showed good improvement through out the season playing in both the 2 nd and 3 rd team, but put together a couple of useful 30's with the bat towards the tail of the season. Simon Larter showed promise and talent with genuine out swingers. If he bowls less no balls next year then he will take another 5 wickets I suspect! His batting is really coming on and is very good clean hitter of the ball. James Palmer's bowling figures do not give justice to his future talent. At times he bowled some very good spells with his unusual left arm leg breaks. I am sure in the coming season he will take a lot of wickets.

There are so many more people I could mention, so my apologies if I have had not had time to get everyone who played a line in this report ( there were 49 players to mention!) . I look forward to another season, which will I am sure will be more challenging and building the strength of the team to take on the teams in the new league is critical. See you at the pre season nets.