CRICKET
Sat 1st XI lost by 5 wickets against Falkland II
Sat 2nd XI won by 8 wickets against Amersham II
Sun 1st XI won by 2 runs against Aston Rowant
Sun 2nd XI lost by 37 runs against Woodley

CRICKET
Sat 1st XI, Beaconsfield II, home, 1.30pm start
Sat 2nd XI, Windsor II, away, 1.30pm start
Sun 1st XI, North Maidenhead, away, 1.30pm start
Sun 2nd XI, Marquess, home, 2pm start

SUNDAY 1ST XI
The Sunday 1XI started off their campaign in glorious style with a close win over old enemy Aston Rowant. Batting first in the sun/showers combination, Chalfont put on 213 all out, a good start for the season.

Aston Rowant made steady progress and were in danger of overhauling the target set, right up until the final over, when, with two wickets remaining they needed two runs to win and ended up on 211 all out. A fine bowling performance from Javaid taking 4 for 17 in 6.4 overs clinched the win.

LOAN SCHEME DRAW
The latest draw was held on 29th May 2004 in the Clubhouse. The lucky winner, with number 40, was Neil Turner as witnessed by David Peters. Thanks again for the continued support of all the Loan Scheme members.

The Saturday 2nd XI won their second league match on the trot with what turned out to be a convincing 8 wicket win at home to local rivals Amersham. Winning the toss and electing to field first, Chalfont made two early breakthroughs via Sohail Ijaz (2-28). Just when Amersham appeared to have made a good recovery, their captain was out in a freakish manner as he drove firmly at silly mid-on where David Peters (more in self-preservation than anything else) got a hand in the way and the ball ballooned up to be caught and bowled by Asif Raza. Then several dropped chances in the field, mainly off Rhys Mander's bowling, let Amersham off the hook and they were quite well set at 146 for 4 with 14 overs to go. However, the new kid on the block, Javaid Ali, who had been keeping wicket up until then passed over the gloves to Adam Laubser and proceeded to help bowl out the visitors for a useful looking 200 finishing with figures of 5 for 22.

Amersham's score looked particularly challenging when Chalfont found themselves 20 for 2 after just 3.3 overs! The young Amersham quick bowlers found the pitch to their liking as they got the ball to lift but in their excitement they started to bowl too short and, man of the moment, Ali started to hook and square cut at will while being given solid support at the other end by Peters. A flurry of boundaries soon gave the innings impetus as the attacking field placings were breached time and again and Ali reached his fifty. Chalfont found themselves very much in the driving seat at the drinks interval with the score on 133 for 2 after 23 overs. After the break, the momentum continued and firstly Peters passed his fifty and then the tiring Ali completed a marvellous debut hundred. The partnership of 181 remained unbroken until the end and is the highest partnership for Chalfont's 2nd XI in the 12 years it has been playing Thames Valley League cricket. Chalfont won with more than 16 overs to go and Ali finished on 115 and Peters on 64.

Here are the best performances of the season so far:

BATTING
Javaid Ali, 115*, Sat 2XI -v- Amersham II (29/5)
Neal Collins, 78, Sun 2XI -v- Dunstable II (25/4)
Neal Collins, 69, Sun 2XI -v- Woodley (30/5)
Dave Peters, 64*, Sat 2XI -v- Amersham II (29/5)
Andy Parsons, 64, Sat 1XI -v- Wokingham II (08/4)

Ah, the seconds. Bat second, finish second, only in for a second. It should be our motto.

Woodley was the destination for the ten man Sunday 2XI this week, and after taking a scenic detour round the Handy Cross roundabout, arrived at Woodford park under threatening skies.

Guest captain this week was young Chris Yoxall, who wanted to make the decisions but not have to talk to the opposition. Eventually, with Nick Davenport holding his hand, he continued the ways of Chalfont by losing the toss and Woodley deciding to bat first.

On a wonderful batting track, Woodley were given a good start when the guest captain bowled two overs before taking himself off after conceeding 14 runs. Dave Nolder and Jon Lindsay toiled at either end, with Lindsay taking a wicket, but it was the return of Chris Yoxall, going for 16 in another two overs, that prompted the inspired bowling change of Webb and Upton, who proceeded to dismantle the opposition with 3-40 and 4-50 respectively.

In the middle of all this was a deluge of biblical proportions where we took an early tea and listened to Neal Collins' radio. At one point someone swore they saw Noah, but finally the rain abated, and we sent out a dove to scout for the pitch. The match was subsequently reduced to 35 overs each, with Woodley looking like they would be out for 150. As it was, they finished on 206-9, after misfieldings and dropped catches cost Chalfont over 50 runs!

By now the obligatory comedy highlights: Yoxall diving in slow motion whilst groaning theatrically. Steve Clarke playing football every time the ball came near him. Malcolm Upton doing a Scottish sword dance when the ball somehow got lost at his feet.

Chalfont started brightly, with Neal Collins smashing 14 from the first over. Sadness quickly followed as Yoxall was caught attempting a pull, unsuprisingly getting underneath it on a bouncy pitch, even after it rained cats, dogs, elephants and blue whales.

Neal Collins produced one of the quickest 50s ever in about 6 overs, whilst Webb scratched round at the other end. Collins eventually played on whilst charging up the wicket for 69, leaving Chalfont on 81-2 from 11 overs.

Dave Andersen played a brief cameo, scoring a quick 18, but with the rest of the middle order and tail end either getting ducks or single figures, it will no doubt suprise the reader when they find out that Webb was still in and had made 50.

So far behind were Chalfont that when the final batsman came in, forty runs were required off the final four overs. Webb acepted the challenge and was soon out, caught on 60, Chalfont finishing 168-9.

So the roll of honour for guest captain continues, with everyone clamouring for the responsibility for next week when we play Marquess. Will they be able to break the hoodoo and win a game?

Tune in for live coverage from the 2XI house at www.chalfontsports.org.uk/forum. Who stays? Who goes? You decide.

Note to our Guest Captain: PIES!