Ivanhoe CC vs Rosaneri CC (h) 23rd June 2019

After having been inserted Ivanhoe enjoyed a slow but steady opening partnership between Collins and Kenchington, against tight opening bowling. With the change of bowlers came more opportunities and Kenchington (48) took them with a number of  aggressively struck boundaries. He had to go, with the total 63, to a stunning one handed catch and Rosaneri impressed throughout with their committed, energetic and skilful fielding. Zee (13) was just warming up with a couple of fours when he also departed to an outstanding catch. Skipper Woodcock arrived and had his sights on 175+. Challenging running between the wickets followed and innings anchor, Collins (32) departed run out, after a mini mix up and an excellent throw. Woodcock continue to pummel the bowling and neared 50 before more jug avoidance got him out for 48. Dancer, on return from injury, knew the benefits of a not out, duly achieved with 25 and Hausler completed the innings with a lovely cameo, and Ives reached a pleasing 185.

After a filling Kenchington repast, Ives had the best of starts when Hausler induced the opener to play on first ball. However his first spell was not up to his usual standard and Saqib was left on at the other end bowling a great length and getting significant movement. Woodcock bowled quickly and gave the batsmen much to think about though the number 3 (“uncle”) dispatched anybody and everybody to the legside boundary Ives were grateful to see him depart for 55. Otherwise the bowling was well on top and with 20 overs to go Rosaneri were 7 wickets down, though with less than 100 needed. Skipper Woodcock rotated the bowlers and Prasad, Loveday and Dancer all had their moments.  Hausler and Saqib and Woodcock all had second spells, but astute defence from some of the oppo ensured a winning draw, finishing on c 148-9.

Ives can reflect on an enjoyable match but one that should have been won. Too many chances went begging, though few were easy and the fielding awards went to Rosaneri. Of the bowlers  Dancer took his first wicket of the season and the other wickets were shared by Woodcock, Hausler and Saqib (who had 2 caught behind, always a good sign for an opening bowler.)

Highgate Irregulars vs Ivanhoe CC (A) 9th June 2019

This match was organised very late in the day due to the Cancellation by Botany Bay.

We played at the quite picturesque Old Cholmeleians CC ground which is off Hendon Wood lane in Barnet.

Ivanhoe was a little weak in numbers (10) with a couple of newbies brought along by Richard.

It was a 40 over Match and Ivanhoe batted first.

Our lowest score of the season ensued – 116 all out (or for 9 wickets), with a number of our regular Batsman (Ciaran – 24, Steven – 16 [but more on Steven further down], Zee – 15, Richard – 10) making decent starts before getting out with the star Batsman being tail-ender John Loveday on 24 not out. His highest score to date and adding a tiny bit of respectability to our Innings.

After a very nice tea, Highgate opened their batting and lost a number of early wickets giving us some slight hope till one of their Batsman hit a quickfire 41 before being dismissed by Ciaran. Pick of the bowlers were Saquib (2-44), Richard (2-11) and Ciaran finishing with 3-33.

Man of the match (and Bravery award) would be Steven who was struck a nasty blow on the face when he opened our Batting, recovered later on to bat again and scored 16, then fielded and took a nice catch. All no doubt while suffering a throbbing head!

Better luck next time Chaps!

Andy H.

Ivanhoe CC vs North Weald – 2nd June 2019

First home game of season always takes extra organisation, collecting together everything needed, so thanks to all for helping out, with Richard sourcing the urn and boundary markers and Adrian delivering the tea pot. Even the club kit was remembered.

On a rock hard surface North Weald elected to bat in a time game. Skipper, Parnell R, gave the bowlers short spells, as there was little in the pitch for them, and change was the greatest challenge to the batsmen. The bowling and fielding were of a high standard (despite missing 4 difficult catches) and after one opener finally departed, having scored a half century, the scoring rate was reduced by particularly economical bowling from debutant Poynton (6-1-11-1) and Parnell R (6-2-7-2). The other bowlers were also successful with Hausler (14-2-44-2) and Prasad (11-4-21-2) bowling 2 spells each  and Loveday having his most successful spell since joining the club (8-0-35-1), bowling a little quicker and seeing a proper leg spinner’s wicket caught by keeper Kenchington. Unable to bowl North Weald out they declared on 145-8 after 48 overs.

Tea went down very well, thanks to John Loveday who came up trumps by volunteering and setting a high culinary standard complete with catering health and safety certificate (allegedly).

The Ivanhoe reply was dominated by Kenchington at number 3, after Poynton (13) departed after showing clear potential. Kenchington selected shots wisely and punished anything wide, having the power and timing to reach the boundary regularly. He was rewarded with an invaluable half century (57), and it was perhaps inevitable that his departure changed the game in North Weald’s favour. Parnell S (22) kept things going with at the loss of his wicket went the chances of an Ivanhoe win. The 8th wicket fell with 9 balls remaining. Parnell C calmly played out the penultimate over, before Prasad, rashly took a single on the 2nd ball of the last over. Chris was caught next ball, leaving 3 balls to go. Earlier in the innings Parnell P had gone down as if struck by a sniper’s bullet, and had to withdraw for specialist calf treatment from Abrahamson. Suitably bound up, he returned at the death, as only a former captain and leading club officer could. Rather superfluously his brother entered the fray as a runner! The tension rose, the feet were not moving, but the bat was classically angled down with soft hands and Ivanhoe emerged with a draw at 123-9, having received 36 overs (12 less than North Weald).

Overall encouraging, but the batting, with some exceptions, let us down on a blameless track, though credit should also go to the opposition bowlers. Last year we had beaten North Weald by c 90 runs, and this time they played much better and, as before, in absolutely the right spirit, a fixture to hold onto, cherish and enjoy.

Bob C.

Reach CC vs Ivanhoe CC – 26th May 2019

This was originally a Tour fixture for the Tour that never was. So after meeting for a pleasant Brunch at Newmarket we headed to  the outskirts of the village of Reach where our opponents relatively new Cricket Field was located. The field was sat in a patch of National Trust land, surrounded by  recent plantings of fruit and traditional trees. The ground was flat and windy, with a telegraph pole within the field, and lacked a Clubhouse. The pitch was rock hard and pock marked with a thin cover of green grass and promised to provide some challenge to batsmen.

Reach batted first. The bowling was opened by Richard (2-46) and Ciaran with an economical and fiery (managing to bruise Reach’s openers) spell of 1-24. Wickets from Andrew, John Loveday (First for club), and a welcome return from Max (1-19) made some progress at slowing their Innings before we had an excellent spell from Matt of 4-13 which ended the Reach Innings at 197. Ciaran starred in the field with 4 decent catches in the outfield. Phil.K performed a brave job behind the stumps and suffered much bruising caused by the variable bounce of the pitch.

So a gettable target and after a pleasant Tea, Ives started our innings. Bob and Phil.K fell cheaply before Richard, with an excellent knock of 60 (with his typical batch of 13 boundaries) was aided by Matt (26) and Ciaran (23). Chris P was elevated to the middle order and did not disappoint by swatting the ball round the field for 4 runs. The match see-sawed with Ives at times looking certain to win before late wickets in a second spell from their quickish opening bowler stopped us in our tracks. Phil.P (24) batted solidly at the end but was left without partners after Max and Andrew were out.

So an exciting but in the end disappointing result but a lot of fun had by all with drinks with the friendly opposition at the “Dykes End” (hmmm – puzzling choice of name for the village pub!).

Andy H.