Bush hit top form

Another match, another victory. Shepherds Bush CC’s 1st team are on a roll.

Hornsey were the visitors to Bromyard Avenue at the weekend, and – surprisingly – put Bush in to bat on a good wicket. Maybe they felt the low clouds rolling across Acton would work in their favour.

No one can recall when Bush captain Marcus Howard last won the toss, but regularly losing the flip of the umpire’s coin seems to be working as Bush would have opted to bat had he called correctly!

He and fellow opener Joe Carrasco settled in quickly after the pavilion bell rang just before 11am, and reached a 50 partnership in under 10 overs, with Hornsey’s quick bowlers Jack Bruce and James Ward sharing the attack.

JC was finally caught by Richard Tucker for 44, Ben Waine the bowler. Mitch Crayn came in at No3, but only lasted nine balls (and scoring a single) before being caught by Ward.

Ikjot Thind came to the crease, but Waine had his eye in and also bowled him for one.

Next to partner the captain was Alex Blofield, but he departed, lbw, for six runs. Howard finally succumbed to Josh Haynes’ bowling in the 33rd over, having knocked a very creditable 53 runs off the 94 balls faced.

Bush were still steadily advancing, with Hugo Hughes scoring 35 before being out lbw to James Ward, and Harvey Jupp managing 30 before being caught.

Alisdair Easton was bowled by Haynes for 41 in the last-but-one over, and Bush came to the end of their innings with Henry Blofield and Chinmay Mullapudi still at the crease, not out 1 and 19 respectively.

Hornsey played cautiously, with openers Haynes and Richard Tucker adding no runs at all in their second and third overs, and when Thind bagged two wickets in three balls in the fifth, the writing was on the wall. Haynes was out (caught Carrasco) for 12, with Dom Smith going for a duck.

Tucker made 20 before being bowled by Mullapudi, with Thomas Wyatt out for 5 and Gareth Orr for four as the scoreboard sluggishly turned over.

Howard caught Tom Lytle for a duck, and only a good knock by Harry Killoran, scoring 36 before being caught by Mullapudi off Hughes’ bowling, spared Hornsey's blushes.

Hornsey were all out for 141, giving Bush a 110-run win; an excellent achievement as several first-teamers were absent because of family commitments or injury. Thind was the pick of the bowlers, taking five wickets for 28 runs.

Shepherds Bush CC 1st Xl: 251 for 8 declared in 60 overs (12pts)
Hornsey CC 1st Xl: 141 all out in 35.5 overs (0pts)

Pop along to the Shepherds Bush CC pavilion – and well-stocked bar – to watch some highly entertaining cricket. There are also busy junior and girls sections at this diverse and inclusive club, founded in 1882.

The next Middlesex County Cricket League Premier Division home match starts at 11am on Saturday 6 July, against Crouch End. Alternatively, tune in to the club’s YouTube livestream (the camera’s on top of a sight screen).