CRICKET
Sat 1st XI, Tring Park II, home, 1.30pm start
Sat 2nd XI, OMT II, away, 1.30pm start
Sun 1st XI, Stoke Green, home, 1.30pm start
Sun 2nd XI, Kenton, away, 2pm start

SOFTBALL
Thursday 1st, Ascot Blue Jays, away, 7pm start

There will be an Indian BBQ at the club on Saturday evening, 3rd July, after the cricket.

Shabs is head chef and the food will be hot and delicious! The bar will be open, too.

Tickets £10 each, payable on the night. All club members welcome.

RESUMPTION OF SERVICE

Many apologies for the disappearance of the newsletter of the last couple of weeks that has been caused by an incredible workload over the period. The service should be up and running at 100% again next week and can I take this opportunity to thank the people who have submitted the unpublished articles over the last couple of weeks.
SUNDAY 1ST XI

Despite threatening skies and a dreadful forecast, we started on time in our MASL match against Beaconsfield at Chalfont Park. The visitors batted first and made 198-9 from 35 overs, their innings shortened by the first of several rain breaks. Adil Irfan was the most successful bowler, taking 3-35. After a long tea, we began our reply and were soon in trouble, 44-4 from 12 overs. However, another heavy shower finally put paid to the match, which was abandoned at 6pm, and we escaped with a rather fortuitous share of the points.

The 2XI, with their guest captain Nick 'The Wall' Davenport, made the long and arduous journey to Octopus CC in the middle of London. Without any of their normal high scoring batsmen, and only one of their usual bowlers, it was always going to be a tough ask of the team. And so it was that we won the toss and elected to field. In boiling hot conditions. The opening pair for Octopus were efficient without being flashy, steadily going at around 4 an over. It was only when we got them out and brought in their numbers three and four that we had a problem. Two class batsmen quickly put Chalfont to the sword, with Webb in particular taking a pasting. However, when the rain finally fell after 34.5 overs, Octopus declared on 209-6 and an early tea was taken.

One highlight was Webb yet again getting an LBW decision from a dodgy umpire and making the averages for the season. Another was a fine catch by Andersen on the boundary. But that was about it.

With a damp pitch, Octopus' fast bowler 'Rocky' soon laid into Chalfont, accounting for Chris Yoxall LBW (see forum for further details), Pat Nagle, Dave Andersen, Andy Gledhill and Malcom Upton. Webb and Noot played defensively for a few overs, praying for rain, until Noot ran Webb out. In the end it was Jon Lindsay and Gareth Noot who held up Octopus long enough for the rain to come again with Chalfont on 53-9 and draw the match.

A narrow escape for the once mighty 2XI, who now go to face Kenton, who, three years ago, bowled us all out for 19. Anyone volunteering to be skipper for this one?

Tune your dial to www.chalfontsports.org.uk/forum for more exciting banter.

The Saturday 2's stopped their recent run of defeats with a draw at home to High Wycombe in a game reduced to 84 overs. Batting first, Wycombe built their score steadily despite some good ground fielding and catching by Chalfont. Asif Raza produced another marathon spell of 22 overs and took 4 for 75. However, the visitors still looked set for a big score when 157 for 4 before David Peters (4 for 27) helped initiated a fall of wickets and Wycombe were all out for 183 of the last ball of their allotted 44 overs.

Chalfont's reply was solid until the two Wycombe opening bowlers started to make inroads into the batting and after 17 overs Chalfont were 46 for 4. Adil Irfan (40) and Dave Banner (33) then led a recovery putting on 63 for the 5th wicket in good time but when both fell in quick succession the home side's chances of winning faded. Chalfont ended up on 139 for 6 from their 40 overs.