Nets – 20th March 2024

Ivanhoe Nets – Wednesday 20 March 2024

Another Wednesday, another visit to Hatfield for an examination by pace and spin for 8 hardy Cricket fanatics.

On a personal note, it is very pleasing to see three left handers playing with the minds of the bowlers…and most took a few deliveries to find their range and the lines that tie lefties in knots.

From the first ball, Peter had cranked it up to full, bowling very swiftly and moving the ball through the air and getting some good cut off the seam. Saquib was another that had the ball hooping around.

We took over two nets, according everyone a good quarter hour of batting and tested out the fitness of the bowlers…good workout but the more senior citizens might feel the effects of 45 minutes of non-stop bowling (not sure I can put my hand up to say I was one of those, as my shoulder is rather stiff!).

Those that rely on guile and deception were not left behind, with many a batter bamboozled by some sharp turn imparted on the ball. John was working on the various non-spinning changeups as well as some big turning leggies. Will bowled a few absolute beauties with the ball deviating significantly from the pitch.

There was an almost end of term freedom and joi de vie in the stroke play of the batters, but this caused everyone’s stumps to be rearranged at least once. There was a cacophony of thundering cracks from the ball being smote interspersed with a hollow rattle of ball clattering the wickets.

Hopefully the powerful batting and hitting will continue into the season but with a little more discipline – batters will need to remember they need to be in to score…

Author: Hansi B

Nets – 6th March 2024

The weather outside might be utterly miserable, the water table so high that groundspeople around the country are no-doubt in despair at the thought of preparing wickets for the next season, but the nets are in prime condition to build up Ivanhoe’s confidence.

March’s first net saw slightly less swing for the fast bowlers than the previous couple of weeks – to the delight of the batters but the battery of quicks didn’t share their enthusiasm for the lack of movement.

It was great to see Ciaran at the nets as he was straight on it, generating some serious pace, along with Peter and Saquib one net provided an examination of fire and brimstone, whereas the other saw the wily and crafty slower bowlers in operation.

As is his (new) wont, John was padded up and ready to face up well before 9 (there are unconfirmed reports that he drove to the nets in his pads!), and it didn’t take long for the big shots to come out.

In the other net, Chris batted well, playing some good strokes and looking unflustered – time in the firing line over the next few weeks will build his confidence mightily.

Will again batted with aplomb, Saquib gave him a working over but he was equal to the task, runs will certainly flow if he bats like this once we get out onto (hopefully) dry tracks.

Missing several weeks due to being struck on the toe has certainly not affected Phil K’s confidence. One of the most astounding sites of the evening was an attempted reverse scoop to a length ball from Peter. Sadly Phil missed…but gladly so did Peter! Could have been messy but no harm done to stumps or person…lets see this come out in a game!

There was some thunderous stroke-play from Mo, although there was a casualty of the brutality…Mo’s bat split!  Looking forward to seeing him next week with a new blade and seeing how far the ball will travel!

Tai and Shez provided some good (and not so good on occasion) deliveries but their forte with the willow was apparent, punishing good and bad balls.

If the opposition are ever short and John plays for the opposition, Saquib will be shaking in his boots – as once again he proved to be John’s bunny whilst not being overtly troubled by others. Seeing his stumps rearranged by one of John’s box of tricks is becoming a regular occurrence!

Running two nets with lots of bowlers gave everyone a chance to really turn their arms over and get a good bat – hopefully more will be able to join us next week!

Author: Hansi B

Nets – 28th Feb 2024

Late February saw Ivanhoe returning to the nets for another session, although injuries and inexplicable other engagements meant only 7 souls made it to Hatfield. Taking up two nets allowed all and sundry to get a long bat…although with the pace, guile and movement on offer this also provided opportunity for one’s off stump to be pegged back…no doubt banter about walking wickets will ensue unless next week sees tightened up defences.

The hot and steamy conditions in the nets accorded an unreasonable amount of swing and the ball hooped around in the air, providing a workout for all bowlers as at any time there were either two or three people bowling in each net…those with older bodies may creak a little for a couple of days.

As with last week, John fronted up in one net…he’s getting a taste for batting early, when the season starts he’ll hear “We’re batting” and rush off to get his pads on. Standing the ‘right way round’ meant it took Hansi a wee while to work out how to get the ball outside off (rather than leg) stump, but Peter was on the spot straight away. Working up a healthy pace as well as moving the ball out of the hand, presenting an upright and proud seam there were ‘oohs and aas’ aplenty. Right at the end of his prolonged session the shots came out and his trademark lofted drive was played a couple of times.

In the other net, Tai took on all that Saquib and Shez could hurl down at him, crashing the ball to all parts of the net. It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the bowlers though, as the odd ball beat the bat and the stumps rattled a couple of times.

John did weave his magic against several of the batters hitting the stumps a couple of time, but Hansi managed to beat him down so much that he reverted to bowling some left-arm ‘stuff’. He said it was to protect his shoulder but all could see how this was the only way to get Hansi out.

The ultimate humiliation was when Hansi played a reverse pull to one of John’s mystery balls…good to practice in the nets but unlikely to be seen in a match situation unless there is something very odd in the air!

John got his mojo back when bowling to Saquib, who missed a straight one, but otherwise batted well.  

The non-stop bowling certainly put many miles into the bowlers legs, as well as according the batters the opportunity to really get their eye in against one bowler and work out their nuances and start to pick the deliveries from the hand.

Author: Hansi B

Nets – 21st Feb 2024

The third Wednesday in November saw two stalwarts return to the nets, having been incapacitate or holidaying over the previous two weeks. To say there was a little rust in Hansi’s limbs is a case of dramatic understatement, but Bob Collins, like the well oiled machine he is was straight back into it, playing some lovely shots as he took first use of the net…It did not all go swimmingly, with his off-peg knocked back twice by admittedly excellent deliveries. Even prime Collins would have struggled with some of the beauties send down at him. Some lovely back-foot play indicated that when he gets in we can look forward to some very good top order runs as bad balls were punished with authority.

Saquib swung the ball outrageously, providing a working over for all batters, generating good pace and movement through the air. To top off his performance, Saq had a prolonged bat, showing good and solid defence interspersed with some big shots.

A sight all at Ivanhoe will be glad to see was John…getting some turn and finding a length that drew batters forward. Here’s to a return of ’22 which saw many first over wickets, something sorely missed last season. Let’s hope that this continues onto the early season wickets where some variable bounce will aid and abet his box of tricks.

There were frequent crashes as thundering and powerful shots from the blade of Mo, which in a game would have seen fielders searching in the bushes for many lost balls. The freedom with which he dispatched good balls bodes well for the forthcoming season – let’s all hope for some good batting tracks without too much variable bounce.

Utilizing two nets provided a great workout for all the bowlers and allowed everyone to get a good innings. There were a wide variety of approaches, Will getting in behind the line and protecting his wickets with aplomb, or Shez and Tai throwing their hands through the ball whenever it was pitched up or a bit wide. At times there was risk to life and limb as the ball sped back down the nets toward the waiting bowlers.

Here’s to seeing more at the next session!

Author: Hansi B

Ivanhoe CC vs Monks Risborough – 17th Sept 2023

A late addition to the calendar, as no-one had been booked to test their mettle against Ivanhoe, Monks Risborough stepped up to offer us a game. Once again, to Buckinghamshire Ivanhoe set forth.

Many grounds have idiosyncrasies, from the shelves and roman pottery at Verulamium, the tree on the field at Theydon Bois, strange dimensions at Rudolph Steiner and many others experienced over the years, but nothing quite took it to the extreme as this ground.

Steeply sloping from the clubhouse to the pitch on the straight boundary, the pitch was relatively flat but one square boundary was slightly uphill, the other dropped off precipitously and fielders on the boundary were almost invisible to a batter in their stance. The other straight boundary dropped away from the pitch too – meaning bowlers had huge slopes to contend with.

The changing rooms were well appointed, with John being particularly impressed by their collection on mowers…to each their own!

First use of the pitch was given to Ivanhoe, leaving Phil K and Hansi to face the unknown. Monk’s opening bowler, going up the slope, marked out a runup that saw him pass through a couple of postcodes…readers at this point will no doubt remember many a ‘quick’ bowler with a long run-up that puts the fear of whatever into them until the ball trundles down at a moderate pace. Well, dear reader, this was not the case at all! The runup was justified as the ball flashed by the batters in a spell that kept them on their toes, not wayward but not exactly threatening. Phil played a lovely pull-shot off him and Hansi ignored anything he didn’t need to play. The other end saw respite as ambling in but putting effort on the ball, the pace was considerably slower. Runs abounded from the flashing blade of Phil before he was undone by an effort ball that arrived a bit faster than expected and was caught.

Kirishna joined Hansi in the drizzle as thoughts and words were exchanged on the viability of staying out. Two mighty drives to wide ones got Krishna off and running before the rain got heavier and sadly the game was called off. 56-1 from 13 or so overs represented a great base. What would have come of the game but for the weather no-one knows, but an enjoyable experience, hopefully to be repeated next season under liquid-golden skies rather than under one that is leaden and grim.

Shoutout to John, who paused his mower appreciation to umpire from both ends and Tristan who stood at square leg throughout.

Author: Hansi B

Ibstone CC vs Ivanhoe – 10 Sept 2023

Friday dawned bright, heatwaves promised across Hertfordshire for the forthcoming weekend, the prospect of an artificial pitch necessitating soft spikes and running shoes loomed large. The prospect of revenge, all the sweeter given the forecast and probable pitch conditions and recent run of close games brought optimism to all registered for the game…at least until the calamitous message from Andrew that the scoundrels had cancelled on us…what were the intrepid travellers, bereft of the Royal Vet College to do?

Into the breach (although perhaps the use of breach stretched the definition of one usage of the word) stepped Ibstone – into deepest, darkest Buckinghamshire ventured the Ives.  Sat-navs were set for a journey to test ourselves against an unknown quandary.

Further disruption occurred as a late illness withdrawal left the brave travellers one short on the day. As cars parked around the square boundaries of Ibstone’s lovely ground all who’d ventured along the M40 regaled how they’d been peppered with a semi-torrential downpour en route, that had darkened spirits at the prospect of the game being called off. Hearts were gladdened by the pitch coverings and clubhouse for all and sundry to shelter in!

30 overs per side were agreed upon due to the delayed start and creeping darkness that curtail play early on a September’s eve. First use of the wicket fell to the home side but under heavy skies Saquib and Hansi opened up and took 2 wickets apiece, giving the Ives a start not enjoyed in a long while as runs were at a premium. Saquib swung it both ways trapping one batter LBW and another had their off stump knocked back. Stand-in wicketkeeper Rich defied a stiff neck to take a catch, as did Krishna before Ven disrupted another batters wickets.

A mini revival ensued, one cannot but applaud batters doing well against good bowling, before Ven took another, Mohammed chipped in to further deepen the mire Ibstone were in.

John and Phil K turned their arms over, each prying a batter out, aided by some top-notch fielding, both on the ground saving runs and in safe hands catching almost everything … for a while at least.

Champagne moments abounded, as two contenders for catch of the season occurred within the space of a few overs; Saquib defied gravity at backward square flying through the air like a majestic falcon, and Phil K on the boundary flirting with the rope whilst charging back to pluck a lofted drive out of the air. Not to be outdone (and to provide competition to Will’s Mr Nonchalant easy catching and wicketkeeping), Rich affected a stumping with aplomb and calmness.

Sadly the last pair of batters swung their respective willows with gusto and to great effect. Runs were plundered, boundaries aplenty including several balls smote most profoundly over the rope and into nearby woodland inflated the score from a less than middling 110-odd to a semi-imposing 146.

The Ive’s innings can, and indeed should, be divided into two very distinct halves…to whit, Steve, and then the rest. More on Steve later, but for the rest it must be recorded, as posterity needs to know the horrors. Phil K and Venky opened up but sadly didn’t last too long, Krishna looked good and dispatched several balls to the boundary but fell just as the opening bowlers were finishing their spells. Mohammad was undone by a big turner and stumped. The lefthanded power axis of John and Hansi performed miserably. Rich lost the sibling rivalry as he was dismissed first ball and Saquib didn’t last too long. Chris came in for the last couple of overs and outscored his sibling to remain undefeated at the end.

On the other hand, and it is far more enjoyable to recount the exploits of Steve. Coming in early, blocking the good balls and dispatching the bad ones and seemingly untroubled by the carnage around him, he wore a bemused expression as batter after batter fell at the other end. His countenance was unflappable as, when the ball was in his ark, it was gloriously and summarily sent to (and over) the boundary rope. Even when the asking rate was at seven, eight, nine runs and above he did not panic, but merely hit the ball harder and through the ring field.

A well deserved half century was scored, unbowed and undefeated he led the players from the field at the end of Ive’s 30 overs.

History will record Steve’s excellent innings and a relatively close game all up, but those with long memories of the game will chastise themselves for letting the last wicket pair take the game away from them…as well as an admiring nod to Steve, the player of the match.

Author: Hansi B

Ives vs Harrowdene CC – 13th August 2023

Ivanhoe have challenged themselves over the last couple of years against the powerhouse team of Harrowdene CC A timed game in 2021 saw the Ives in desperate trouble but a powerhouse performance from Bob Collins and a controlled innings from Saqib both saved the game and brought the chance of victory but honours finished even. 2022 saw the Vet College host an absolute annihilation, 211 proved far too many in 35 overs as the Ives limped to 109, albeit only for 8.

A bright and sunny day in early August accorded the opportunity for revenge in another timed game, as the toss was won and Harrowdene inserted to face the new ball….

The first few overs belied the carnage that was to come; as few runs were scored off Saqib and Hansi, who took an early wicket as the ball moved off the seam and caused a few false shots and kept the fielders interested. The pitch wasn’t misbehaving in the ‘usual manner’ that we have come to expect from the Vet College.

When the shackles were broken, they were well and truly broken! Boundaries were plundered all around the wicket, leather was chased as the sound of the ball being dispatched echoed around the ground. Some outrageous shot-making ensued, including batters walking outside off stump and walloping the ball behind square on the legs side. It was entertaining to watch (even as a bowler being smashed), with high risk suggesting that wickets could fall at any moment.

Brakes were put on by Tristan, with two wickets in two balls, and Hansi had a plum LBW turned down (cue grins from the batter and a tacit understanding when they were bowling that any LBWs were not going to be forthcoming!). After a quite spell, lasting all of about 10 balls, the pace was picked up…A couple more big partnerships followed and a run rate of 6 an over was easily achieved. The ball, not the greatest to start with, resembled a lump of mud that was increasingly closer in shape to an egg rather than a sphere, certainly did not help.

Two dropped catches did not help the cause of the Ives, but in general it was one of the better fielding performances, espoused by fantastic keeping by Phil K who affected a stumping and kept the batters ‘honest’.

Newcomer Krishna came on to bowl deep into Harrowdene’s innings and bowled beautifully, taking two wickets from excellent deliveries – including the top scorer who was eying a century!

Ivanhoe’s response started in calamity as Phil K fell early, and tight bowling restricted Bob, Rich et al changed the nature of the game; it was no longer about trying to chase the target down, but to survive. Close fielders kept the singles to a premium, and the tight bowling gave few opportunities for the batters to free their arms and hit through the line to break the ring-field.

The battery of fast bowlers were augmented by two spinner; an offie who had tormented Ivanhoe in the past generating lots of bounce and turn, and a left-armer tied batters in knots…there wasn’t any respite and almost every-ball a challenge. The final insult came when a part-timer came on and bowled a maiden, a wicket maiden, then five balls (with another wicket) before conceding a solitary single that could have resulted in a run-out!  

Phil P and Hansi faced the music, trying to be positive wherever possible, with some powerful and controlled strokes from Phil. in a partnership that spanned nearly 20 overs, the draw was achieved, before off the last ball Phil holed out, having done his job to save the game.

Joint player of the match awards went to the returning Parnells, Phil and Tristan – glad to have you back!

Author: Hansi B

Theydon Bois CC vs Ives – 30th July 2023

Ivanhoe at Theydon Bois – The game that wasn’t

The Ives travelled to the lovely ground that Theydon Bois call home – last year we were serenaded by piano concertos from a nearby house as a tightly fought game came down on the side of Theydon.
The curse of 2023’s weather had temporarily abated but under leaden skies that threatened a downpour at any stage, but the presence of a fantastic clubhouse lightened any heavy hearts, Ivanhoe went into bat in a 35 over game.
Depending on where one bats in the order, the sight of a strapping young bowler marking out a runup over 20+ paces either excites or puts the fear of all that’s holy into others…coupled with the gloomy outlook, a large tree deep in the outfield and a pitch that sloped from the short boundary on one side to the long boundary on the clubhouse side, and a few ridges just outside off at one end suggested a challenge would be faced by the openers.
Phil K and Ciaran opened up and faced the wrath of the new ball…Phil made a handy 14 with some lovely strokes before falling. Steve joined the fray and played an exquisite square drive early on as well as a sweetly timed pull shot and looked utterly comfortable in scoring 16, before falling against the run of play.
One of Prasad’s friends was undone first ball by a big spinner bringing Bob Collins in, and the score rattled along until calamity struck and out of nowhere Ciaran fell for a very handy 44. Hansi Joined and was able to watch from the non-strikers end as Bob put on a masterclass of power batting, scoring around the wicket and utterly dominating the partnership.
The rain grew heavier, but the spirits of the Bois were not dampened, even if their shirts were sodden and rain dripped off the helmet visor and black and yellow cap of the batsmen but all and sundry stayed on the field.
Captain Collins was no-doubt cursing his decision not to play a 40 over game, as having scored 65 and led the Ives to 174/4 he left a century on the table. Considering last year Ivanhoe scored 156 off 40 overs this represented the kind of batting that was required last year…
During the luncheon interval, any prospect of play was utterly curtailed ad the downpour became torrential, and the game was called off – an utterly sensible decision but great applause must be directed to the Bois for sticking with the game for the Ives’ innings without complaint and then not getting an opportunity to bat.
Understandably Bob Collins (esquire) was player of the match, although due to some quirk of democracy he shared that accolade…

Author: Hansi B

Ives vs N2CC – 11th June 2023

The eidolon of victory

Sometimes after a game we Ives sit down and say ‘if only’, or ‘it was so close’, or ‘one more wicket would have changed everything’.  There are other instances when the result was never in doubt, as a new ball burst knocked the stuffing out of one team or other…or a total that looked just a little short is chased down well inside the overs as wickets failed to fall, catches dropped or balls fall between fielders…

The game against N2 was lost long, long, long before the denouement was finally applied and the final wicket fell. But that was not the story, or at least the full story of the second half of the game….but before speaking of the titan that bestrode all, 197 runs were plundered by N2 in their 35 overs…Saquib bowled 7 economical overs with the reward of two wickets, a feat matched by Rich who conceded fewer runs, but that, sadly was the end of the economical performance. All other bowlers conceded at least a run a ball, with Andrew and Hansi being the only others that had a positive entry in their final column.

First ball of the game from Saquib reared off a length, calling for helmets all round – perhaps this was a reason some bowlers went for a few as the back of a length bowling played into the hands and meat of the bat of the opposition…

One catch went down on the field, but a few pop-ups landed between fielders, but all in all a much better performance, despite a lot of leather-chasing.

Will had an excellent day behind the stumps letting very few past him, as well as nonchalantly ambling back and taking a skier with Rich bearing down on him apace.

Was 197 too many for Ives to chase? Some fast scoring on an outfield that gave value for shots – all that was needed was a start that didn’t leave Ivanhoe behind the eight-ball.

Sadly, calamity befell the openers, and high scores were not forthcoming, the pitch that had not kept low when it misbehaved in the first half of the game turned Jekyll and Hyde, balls on a length kept low, short balls occasionally shot along the ground doing the odd batter in and grins all around from the opposition. Phil received an excellent delivery that angled in then moved away, possible contender for ball of the season…it set the tone really. Decent balls and pitch misbehaviour did for Bob, Earle, Steve and Hansi to knock the stuffing out of the top and middle order.

Astride, and untroubled by the mayhem, stood Rich. Swatting both bad and good balls to the boundary, running hard between the wickets and utterly serene at the crease whilst he was at the wicket, the possibility of victory, even the vaguest and most unlikely, was on the cards.

Wickets fell, Rich scored more. More wickets fell, once again runs were plundered all around the wicket. Calamity almost striking when John tried a single off the last ball of an over to steal the strike…but somehow in a moment of comedy he managed to regain his ground.

Perhaps victory was only just a dream, phantasma or an eidolon…which proved to be the case when Rich fell for (scorebook says 83 but I was certain it was 89), and that was that.

Well played N2, and Rich…sorry mate, next time we’ll offer more support (promise) as the all-round performance deserved a century and a win. Player of the match will have to console Rich till next time!

Author: Hansi B

Belmont & Edgware CC vs Ives – 21st May 2023

Returning to Belmont & Edgware for an early season game, Ivanhoe had high hopes repeating the performance of last year (https://www.ivanhoecc.co.uk/2022/05/ivanhoe-cc-vs-belmont-and-edgware-22nd-may-2022/) – however all was not aligned with last year…for one thing, it was not the final game of the Premier League season, so no cheeky checking of phones to stay appraised of the score, and the teams were slightly different.  Good for Ives, no fast bowlers pushing off the sightscreen, the pitch looked more even, but the weather was equally fair as last time around.

The toss was lost, and once again first use of the conditions went to the home side…how they must have been ruing that decision after two wayward overs as wides abounded, inter-spaced with some excellent boundaries by Bob Collins and Phil K. Thoughts of challenging last year’s big total were being aired on the boundary, batters waiting to come in began to relax and curses were heard from the scoring hut as all tired in vain to keep up with the runs…then calamity struck from the final ball of the third over. The hitherto untroubled BC, showing off his new bat was facing as the ball was angled in, seamed away and clipped the top of off stump…regardless of the newness of the bat, a very good ball had appeared out of nowhere and the first wicket was down.

Two in two!!! First ball of the fourth over saw PK beaten by an inswinger through the gate! Both ends had seen the stumps rocked back, and pressure was suddenly on Ivanhoe. Enter last year’s colossus at this ground, Ciaran. 70 odd not out last year with lots of time to bat – who’d bet against him emulating this feat? Ably aided by Earl, the next 11 overs saw consolidation with the odd boundary, good running between the wickets…the old adage of block the good ones and hit the bad ones was followed and stress free 49 runs added to the score. Many a leg side blow went for four, the fielding became a bit ragged, when Earl went to the well once again and was bowled.

The malady of having one’s stumps rearranged continued a few balls later, as, off the thigh-pad Ciaran was undone, thus ending a good innings of 32.

Another period of reconciliation of the innings between Steve and Mabs, before a catch in the deep broke the spell of all wickets being bowled…then another straight one was missed by Mabs who’d made 41, and the stumps rearranged yet again…

The end came quickly and all-out for 154 in 36 overs…

Last time round, tight bowling was the order of the day, with pressure ramping up all the time…

Saqib and Mabs opened up with some lovely stuff. The first wicket fell in slightly curious fashion, as the pads were struck and a confident LBW appeal ensued. The full repertoire of emotions were played across the umpire’s face and as the fielders were going back to their positions (it felt like 3 Ice-ages had passed) the finger went up!

Ciaran came on, bowling for the first time of the season, and in flash the off stump was knocked back – what a way to start! Earl then came on and fired one in to take a wicket, but after that the successes dried up and chances, both in terms of catches and near misses went begging. 77/3 at drinks was reasonable, but there could have been significantly more wickets down had a chance or two stuck.

The opening bowlers returned to the crease to try and put more pressure on and promptly delivered, with Saqib gaining two more wickets, and Mabs one with a caught and bowled…the only fly in the ointment was Belmont’s opener (who’d turned down playing for the 1st eleven because he’d have to bat a 5…the shame of being so low in the order!) was unbeaten and smote a glorious back-foot drive off Hansi for a boundary to finish the game off in the 33rd over and remain unbeaten on 89.

Retiring to the bar for a quick drink and reminisce it was agreed that the small moments went against Ivanhoe this week, a dropped catch, good ball sneaking through defences that did not quite happen for Belmont. There’s a saying about catches and matches, but it slips (or has been dropped) rather aptly from my mind…

Great game played in excellent spirit between two relatively evenly matched teams.

Congratulations to Saqib as player of the match

Author: Hansi B