Broxbourne
Match report courtesy of Matt:
Match report vs Uxbridge, 8 th June 2025
After a miserable and wet Saturday, Graces turned up at Broxbourne hopeful to continue the good form in their latest league match with Uxbridge the visitors.
On a softer and slightly damp pitch, Uxbridge won the toss and chose to bat. With Qudrat and Sarthak opening the bowling, runs were hard to come by, with the pitch providing some occasional extra ‘tennis ball’ bounce. This bounce gave Graces the first wicket, with Afzal getting a catch at gully from Qudrat’s bowling, 18/1. The second wicket was harder to find as Spicer and Syal started finding the middle of the bat more regularly and the introduction of the spin allowing for a freer swing of the bat.
Jesant was providing good consistency and his patience was rewarded when sharp hands from Henry stumped out Syal to end the fifty partnership. However, the following partnership was ticking along nicely, with an occasional assist from a fielder, helping the run rate climb towards the 5 an over mark. In an attempt to lure Spicer into a big hit, Matt brought himself on, and despite a rare dropped catch from Stuart, the following over brought the false shot as Spicer charged at the ball unsuccessfully to give Matt a wicket and Henry a second stumping.
Nevertheless, Graces knew that getting Spicer’s partner out as well was a crucial wicket to the shape of the innings. The introduction of Vik brought about the wicket, courtesy of a smart boundary catch from Shumail for 157/4. Wickets continued in amongst the score continuing to tick, with Vik getting reward with a low full toss being placed into Qudrat’s hands at mid wicket. Dan, making his league debut, showed that straight bowling is worth its rewards, getting a wicket bowled and Mahender ending the innings with Stuart taking an excellent catch at long on off the final ball. Uxbridge finishing 214/7 from their 45 overs.
With the pitch drying out, Graces were confident in their chasing abilities. Matt and Henry opened and immediately began pushing the quick running, running nine from the first over alone. This continued throughout the next few overs, with the occasional boundary too. Left arm spinner Mian was providing the strongest resistance from the visitors, still finding the odd popping ball off the pitch. It would be the first change bowler Rehman that found the breakthrough, with Matt trying to over the top of the short cover fielder, only to hit the top of the fielder’s reach to depart for 33 and Graces 48/1 in the ninth over.
This brought Afzal to the crease, fresh from his unbeaten century from the week before. Henry and Afzal continued the strong running as the run rate continued to climb in favour of Graces. Uxbridge continued regular bowling changes, ultilising the multiple slower bowlers they had. It didn’t find the breakthrough as the pair continued to score freely, Afzal particularly comfortable cutting through the offside and Henry with his trademark flowing off and cover drives over the top of the inner fielders.
Henry was the first to fifty and the match result was beginning to swing towards Graces. Afzal then completed his own fifty and there was an overwhelming sense of pad rash coming from the next batters in the lineup as the runs continued to flow post drinks break.
With the runs to win reducing at a rapid rate, there was the possibility of a century from either batter, although, the regularity of scoring from both players was looking like they would both deny each other the opportunity before the target was reach. Afzal then incredibly selflessly decided that he would be the one to remain at the non-strikers end to allow Henry the hundred chance. With 15 to win, Henry was on 85.
As the strike was manipulated between the two to ensure Henry was facing as much as possible, he then went into the 90s and eventually up to 98 with two to win. Very sportingly, the Uxbridge bowler was heard requesting that the umpires did not give an extra if a wide or no-ball was bowled. However, this was not required as another booming off drive allowed the pair to scamper for the winning runs and give 17-year old Henry his first Graces century!
A very strong Graces performance again, which lifts Graces to top of the Division 2 table!
Matt.