2022

A time game in the shadow of Alexandra Palace, Ives completed the double against a team we have lost to in the past. Bravely choosing to bat first, skipper Collins sent in Abramson Snr (after a long Commonwealth Games enforced absence) and Mabs (who rarely gets to bat these days!). One of those choices paid off with Earle receiving the direst of shooters early on. Mabs went from strength to strength with useful partnerships with the Parnell boys (P and S). Runs came at a good pace, around 5 per over but the boundaries were short and 200 seemed the minimum required, so when Mabs departed for an invaluable 72, the score of 121- 5 left the game on a knife edge and the tail enders with work to do. At this point Abrahamson Jr, playing his first innings for Ives, settled in and despatched the first of many boundaries to come. As he departed in came a new budding all-rounder, called John Loveday (the bowler of the same name is no more). He showed application and aggression and was determined to record another not out, but fell in the last over before the declaration, for 27, leaving Collins marooned on 49 NOT OUT!

With 208-7 after 41 overs, Ives had the overs they needed to complete the job, and in the end completed a win in 37 overs (with 4 left to bowl). However victory was only achieved through excellent all round fielding (especially Abramhamson Jr and Parnell T Jr on the boundaries, and Will behind the stumps) and teamwork and some outstanding individual performances. It was clear that Octopus had 2 danger men. Their opener, John, was targeted successfully by the rapid Oakley who bowled a mean and penetrating spell, and was unlucky to only take the 1 (but key) wicket. The second danger man, played fluently and effortlessly until a misjudged shot spiralled over and beyond Loveday who managed to pull off an amazing and possibly match winning catch. With Parnell T Jr bowling a most useful opening spell including a wicket, Saqib bowling 11 controlled overs and picking up 2 wickets in one over, Loveday taking another and Earle keeping things tight, Octopus looked I trouble , but well placed to access a draw… until Mabs appeared .. and took 5 for 8 – a superb spell to ensure Ives enjoyed a great game and a win to boot.

And not to forget – a superb tea provided by Octopus – a rare and much appreciated delight.

Author: R Collins

Oh sing of the brave travellers, of Rich and Will, John and Steve, Venky and Vijay, Tristan and Prasad, Bob, Phil and Hansi who journeyed into Essex to take on Theydon Bois on a sun-baked and gently rolling ground…at least that’s what everyone found second time around as the postcode lead to an allotment…something the bowlers would have enjoyed but the batters might have complained about!

Having won the toss, the Ives padded up to take first use of the straw coloured pitch under sweaty and humid skies…the conditions were tempered by a breeze that oscillated between a zephyr and bluster, aiding movement through the air.

Bob and Hansi opened up, with Hansi exploring the edges of his bat whilst Bob striking many a leg-side boundary before a direct hit from distance left Bob watching on as Hansi was stranded. A few balls had reared but the first one that kept low scuttled Steve. Rich smote a couple of exquisite boundaries before he was dismissed then Phil got one that spun and spat at ankle height to bowl him.

Tight bowling was the order of the day as Will aided in the rebuild, as both batted serenely with occasional boundaries. Will surpassed his highest score before an edge popped up and the keeper bounded forward to effect the catch, and a frantic last couple of overs saw runs and wickets, including Bob sacrificing himself in a suicidal run in the final over.

The final total of 156 was built around Bob’s 76 but the general feeling was Ivanhoe had a chance but another 20-25 runs would have been a really challenging chase.

Tristan and Prasad opened the bowling, with T taking clean bowling one of the openers but boundaries aplenty put Ivanhoe behind the eight ball.  The bumpy outfield caused mishaps in the field but the beguiling and bedevilment the pitch had occasionally thrown up when the Ives batted was absent…Until Rich came steamed in off the long run and several exploded off a length.

Perhaps it was the fuller length Ivanhoe bowled than Theydon, but in contrast the run scoring areas were very different as down the ground was Theydon’s most productive area.

John got his customary wicket with a big turning straight one to add some pressure and slow the run rate down and Hansi bowled 8 tight overs on the trot.  After going at the best part of 5 per over things tightened up at around 25 overs. A couple of late wickets brought Ivanhoe back into the game, albeit as outsiders. It was probably a little too late to really impart pressure on Theydon, as too few runs were needed with many overs remaining. A last couple of hurrahs took the wickets tally to 7 before the winning boundary was struck.  

A great game that came to an end as the sun sank low, bruises from odd bounces in the field were forgotten as all and sundry retired to the clubhouse for a chat and enjoy the last few minutes of the Football.

Man of the Match – Bob C

Author – Hansi B

Always a treat to return to hospitable Ley Hill, and even better to be in midsummer and not just the end of season September weather lottery – and to think this author played a season for them in 1980! And even better was that a very acceptable tea was on the menu – how times change for this to be a special treat.

Having won the toss with a team better suited to bowling Ivanhoe elected to field. With Ley Hill at 100 in less than 15 overs this did not look like the best decision, even though Peter Oakley had bowled 6 economical overs, with figures of 6.3.18.1. At this point Oakley almost took a spectacular catch, but ended up with a ripped nail and hand, medical attention, early bath, no tea and no further participation in the match – kindly Ley Hill provided a sub fielder and, later, a replacement, young Luke Bell, who bowled and batted. The extremely talented and aggressive Henry Sussum (Bucks under 23s) swiftly made his way to 48 before Prasad returned for a second spell to bowl him – a key wicket. Meanwhile young opener Ted Sussum progressed to a well-judged half century.

Ley Hill progressed swiftly and smoothly to 157-3, before Brooks calmly ran out the wily and experienced McHugh (26). It was then Tristan time. Parnell junior bowled his 5 overs for 30 runs and took 4 wickets, one courtesy of the usual juggling family of Parnells – in this case his Dad. Six wickets fell for 28 and it was only a last wicket stand of 24 that took Ley Hill to 209 all out with 15 balls unused. Catches by sub Bell and Loveday, a stumping by Kenchington and a further run out by T Parnell completed a good performance and  ensured a much lower total than looked likely earlier. GOAT Loveday had bowled economically near the death with 5 overs 1 for 10, before Hausler eventually got his first wicket to end the innings.

Ivanhoe’s reply began with a surprisingly quick cameo of 24 from skipper of the day Collins, before Kenchington, after a slow start, settled in, mixing solid defence with outright aggression to form the backbone of Ivanhoe’s reply. Ably supported by Parnell P, Bell and Brooks, wickets fell regularly and Ivanhoe found themselves 116-4 in the 23^rd over. With regular rabbit, Loveday, joining Kenchington the game looked over, but Kenchington progressed to a superb 80 (his second highest score for Ives) and, with Loveday, put on 52 for the 5^th wicket. Loveday was no 2019 Leach – he overcame the shock of batting at 6 and soon went beyond his previous top score of 26 not out, and with Hausler took Ivanhoe beyond 200. Loveday reached 43 not out (strike rate over 87 and included a 6 – admittedly to the shortest of boundaries) and a famous victory was achieved with 2 balls to spare.

A great team effort which also included sound fielding from Parnell C and Saqib, the game leaves the question of where will Loveday bat next week?

With MOM still to be decided there are a wealth of candidates, including Kenchington, Loveday and Parnell T.

On a final note – good to see Ives legend Andy Christie (plus dog) circling the boundary and filming Ives’ heroics!

Author: Bob C

Bravely the delegation from Ivanhoe proceeded to the outskirts of Amersham to take on Haddenham, in a fixture that is new to the rota – but will surely become a regular fixture.

Sometimes a game of cricket can be determined by a moment of luck, outrageous skill or the weather…this game certainly had all of these elements! Luck (bad for Ives) in losing the toss and being put into bat on a brown and damp pitch, outrageous skill in Rich receiving another candidate for ball of the season to be bowled comprehensively…and weather in the pitch improving remarkably over the course of the day.

Bob and Phil K opened up, striding determinably to the crease…several boundaries behind square from Bob had the watchers relaxing and worries over the pitch subsiding. What folly such thoughts proved to be as Phil was bowled of an under edge from a ball that didn’t come up, Bob following suit shortly afterwards and panic setting in. Rich was beaten all ends up by one that angled in a long way before swinging away late – an excellent delivery under any circumstances! Scoring became very slow, with a semi-repair job performed by Phillip Parnell and Hansi who scored slowly but were relatively untroubled. Then the pitch’s demons reared their ugly head once again…but not from conventional lengths and lines – almost the worse the ball, the more it did (sadly when bowling, Ivanhoe did not adopt the tactic of bowing badly to cause consternation, maybe a lesson to learn for the future!). Some last minute thrashing from the lower order (John deserves mention for his hitherto for highest score) took the total to something approaching respectability before being all out.

With the ball, Prasad continued his role as miser-in-chief conceding very few from his opening and second spells, Andrew taking 4 wickets and good fielding all around left Haddenham in a spot of bother. Hopes were raised as run-scoring was at a premium, accurate bowling and the pitch looming large in everyone’s heads and a spark charged Ivanhoe. Sadly this was extinguished by some classy batting from the 6^th wicket partnership that carried Haddenham home.

A classic game of two halves, that rested on a few key moments but played in the utmost spirit and friendship ended under clear skies with warm handshakes all round.

Author: Hansi B

Ives batted first on a decidedly shaggy pitch, with Bob Collins and Philip K demonstrating exquisite timing, power batting and consummate ease in putting on 70 for the opening wicket…the opposition were crying out Nero’s legion to descend and lay waste to the ground to put them out of their misery, such was the command of the openers. A fast start was the ground for the fear and mayhem that derailed North Weald’s bowling; 24 runs were smote in the first two overs before some semblance of line and length was experimented with by the bowlers…. There was talk, given the lack of wicket taking deliveries, of the openers remaining unbeaten throughout the innings…the aforementioned tightening of the bowling slowed the scoring rate, as the game ebbed for a few overs until the unthinkable happened…a wicket fell! As ever, one wicket changed the complexion of the game as Bob’s dismissal caused a degree of consternation in all the other batters, which was exacerbated by the fall of Phil (stumped for a majestic 58). 70 without loss descended to 115 for 6 with single figure scores the order of the day. A sheen was put on the innings thanks to two sumptuous boundaries from Will Brooks as he was only the third batter to get into double figures.

In reply, North Weald never really got going – another excellent bowling performance that gave very little away, coupled with a lack of endeavour meant the asking rate climbed alarmingly and nothing was easy to score off. Venky bowled excellently with 1-17 off 7, Prasad continued his miserly season with 1-12 from 7 and Saqib 1-19 off 7 throttled the life from them. 112-4 was all North Weald could muster, leaving Ivanhoe the deserved winners. Hats off to all from a great effort.  

Author: Hansi B

Ivanhoe’s second away game of the season saw them visit a lovely ground at Buttonhole Lane in Finchley, for match against Belmont and Edgware. The warm summer air greeted all and sundry for a somewhat early start, as mettle was to be tested on a pitch with a lovely dome at one end that threated to bring great movement and excitement to the bowlers.

The opposition had to borrow someone from another of their teams occasionally as they were only able to find 10 players on the day, took first use of the new ball. The opening bowler marked out his run, almost pushing off the sightscreen (admittedly short straight boundary)…what a way to start a Sunday afternoon; redheaded young speedster steaming in off the long run, pitch that looked uneven…fortunately the run up didn’t quite relate to the speed the ball arrived at, and the bowling could best be descried as wayward. Phil K managed to somehow get his bat onto one so wide he needed telescopic arms and was caught, Hansi got his bat stuck in his pad whilst trying to wallop it…but all around this batting with the utmost of serenity and without any degree of consternation was Bob Collins, who was joined by Ciaran who continued his majestic form. Runs flowed freely, with many a boundary struck, singles ambled before after Bob passed 50 and somehow missed a relatively straight one.  Things were on the up as a huge 6 was hit by Rich before he received the ball of the day (angled in, moved away and hit the top of off).  The situation looked precarious and there was a risk of collapsing like a house of cards. Enter Saqib, who batted with hitherto undiscovered ease and made an utterly untroubled 35. Ciaran remained 73 not out, scoring 20+ in the last over alone! The final total of 253 looked imposing but short boundaries and a fast outfield gave cause for concern.

The Belmont innings started serenely without fuss or fast scoring, when the first wicket fell (the batter who looked languid, having scored 170 the previous week) put further brakes on the scoring. Wickets fell reasonably frequently and the scoring rate dipped well below the asking rate through a combination of tight bowling and a lack of impetus from the batters. Tight bowling made scoring difficult but the batters seemed to settle for occupying the crease and enjoying facing the bowling with runs a second thought. Prasad was utterly miserly with his bowling, conceding 9 off his full quota of overs and taking a wicket, Saqib taking 1-5, Ciaran 3-29, John chipped in with 2-15 and Rich rounding it out with 2-12.

After the game, a beverage or two was enjoyed whilst watching a close finish from Belmont’s first XI losing a contentious match on the neighbouring pitch where a last ball 6 propelled the visitors to victory – the swearing and arguing over a catch on the boundary was 6 or out…highly enjoyable!

Author: Hansi B

The rosy fingered dawn greeted the hallowed turf of Verulamium park on Sunday 8 May, ready for Ivanhoe’s first home game of the season. A flat pitch situated in the rolling, verdant fields of the tree lined and picturesque countryside, overlooked by the cathedral proved an idyllic setting to test our mettle. 

Captain Richard won the toss and elected to have first use of the conditions and exploit anything the pitch had to offer. Tristan Parnell took a wicket in his first over, dismissing Octopus’ best batsman, setting the tone for a tough day for them. Tight bowling all round as well as some demons in the pitch, mayhap remnants of the Icini’s rampage through the area, were exploited to the fullest. Hansi Baumann added a few grey hairs to the batsmen with some slamming lift and movement, finishing with 3 wickets (earned through good bowling albeit the latter two taken with some questionable balls). Some late order hitting coupled with some awful catching (at least four drops throughout the innings) yielded a competitive total of 166 for 7 after 35 overs.

The gentle slope of the outfield gave cause to the fielders and value for shots down the hill, and added a gleam to any batter’s eye…Sadly the brave Ive’s openers were overcome by the glare caused by easy runs and within moments were 3-9 before Rich entered the fray. Batting with consummate ease, occasionally showing the utmost disdain for the bowling and not a care in the world accumulated, bludgeoned and powered the game’s balance towards Ivanhoe. Ciaran, Phillip Parnell and Hansi contributed small partnerships with Rich who bestrode the innings like a colossus to remain unbowed, unbeaten and undefeated on 85.An innings of style, substance and sophistication – if only Octopus had scored a few more then he would have been raising his bat with a century. In the end, the winning runs were smote by Tristan who finished the game off in style.

Huzzah and three cheers for all, a game played in excellent spirit overlooked by the historic cathedral, verdant grasslands and toasted at the local pub.

Author: Hansi B

Under leaden skies, Ivanhoe’s 2022 season got underway at the picturesque ground in Chipperfield, as the Ives bravely took the field having been favoured by winning the toss. Drizzle in the air did not deter the plucky Ives, the cool breezes and damp outfield could not sway the brave Ives, nor could the sloping and slightly rutted outfield divert the brave Ives from commencing the season in stye.

The 35 over game was played without interruption from the weather, albeit in trying circumstances due to a lush outfield that gave next to no value for strokes.  Run-scoring was at a premium and hard running the order of the day…with nurdles and nudges making up the bulk of the scoring…along with edges off the faster bowlers – much to the chagrin of those that had charged in off 12 or more paces to see the ball disappear to third man for 4…

Chipperfield were ambling along at 3 or so an over, impressed by the excellent ground fielding (with two direct hits early doors showing the benefit of the fielding training), never quite pegged back by losing a couple of wickets. The introduction of Andrew Hauser, bowling off the short run, started a slide with two well taken wickets. Peter Oakley steamed in and showed the other fast blokes how to take wickets – a lesson Saqib took to heart all but cleaned up the tail with 4 wickets – a missed catch leaving him agonisingly short of a five wicket haul.  Chipperfield ended on 160-9, fortified by a fighting 49 before their top scorer was cut off by a combination of Phil K and Peter. The score was probably 10 runs above a par score, but well within reach.

Aside from Ciaran, who bestrode the conditions to score freely and never be inconvenienced, Ivanhoe’s batting effort was stymied by the slow outfield, good bowing and fielding. Contributions throughout the order kept the run rate in check albeit at the cost of wickets reasonably frequently.  Any runs scored were probably worth at least double on another day, and through dint of hard running Ivanhoe were always in the game.

Entering the last over, a handful of runs were needed, Ciaran in the 60’s and three wickets in hand, all three results were possible…sadly it wasn’t to be, as Ciaran was deprived of the strike and two wickets falling, Ivanhoe fell 3 runs short…an agonising result but a fitting conclusion to a great game played in excellent spirit by two evenly matched teams…

Three cheers and huzzah to the colossus that was Ciaran – Player of the Match!

Author: Hansi B