F&HCC Early Season Update
There is a well-worn adage in sport that successful teams find a way to win when playing poorly. No finer example of this than events witnessed at The Paddock last Saturday when FHCC First XI managed to pull a rabbit out of the cricketing hat to overcome a belligerent bottom of the table Belhus side.
A sub-optimal effort with the ball, with the majority of the attack not reaching the high standards established so far this season, had seen Belhus amass 248-9 in their allotted 50 overs and with Fives missing half of their regular top six batters the game was in the balance. What wasn’t required was the usually reliable opening pair to fail, skipper Copper trapped first ball and Yeats drilling one straight to mid off for just 17, leaving a mountain to climb. Despite scores in the 30’s from Huzaifa Umer and Jamie Porter the fixture was sliding away from us despite some resolute stubborn resistance from Joe Craddock. Six down and the run rate climbing, Crads was joined at the crease by overseas paceman Achille Cloete. It was the first time either had batted this season such had been the dominance of our top order to date.
Forty minutes, five lost balls and 80 runs later the pair walked off having produced a devasting display of power hitting to wrestle the twenty points back to Fives and maintain our grasp on top spot in the early Hamro Foundation Division One table.
In fairness to the side, this performance was at odds with the four preceding matches which were all won comfortably and in some style. Title rivals Billericay were beaten on the opening day of the season. The scorebook may tell a tale of 5 wickets for Brad Copper and 72 from the bat of Ben Yeats but arguably the most telling intervention was that of a flying Jake Poulter to hold a screamer of a slip catch to dismiss overseas star and pro Grant Roelofson for just 24 from the bowling of Mehad Khan. Champagne moment of the season won in the first hour of the campaign.
A superb, combined bowling effort saw Ilford reduced to just 179 which openers Copper (79) and Yeats (47) pretty much saw off for the win.
The following week proved even more comprehensive as Gidea Park were skittled for just 69 as Achille Cloete (3-23), Mehad (2-26), Bilal (3-3) and Brad Copper (1-13) made the most of a favourable toss. The skipper and new number 3 bat, Ed Fluck, scored 30’s to secure a 9 wicket victory.
Week 4 saw a top of the table clash between the unbeaten Fives and Div 1 newcomers, Springfield. Again, excellence with the ball and in the field enabled us to suffocate the opposition batting as they struggled to 180 all out (a partial recovery from 137-8). Brad Copper and Achille both claiming three wickets a piece but superbly backed up by Mehad, Bilal, Joe Radford and Jake Poulter. Despite the usual strong start from the aggressive opening pair that saw Ben make 32 and Brad 53 a cluster of wickets raised the visitors hopes of a come back only for Jake Poulter to bat imperiously to make a match winning 69 not out.
On the back of those victories the Belhus game looked relatively straight forward on paper but as described it proved quite the opposite. A lesson learned possibly.
As the league moves into the, all so crucial, section of nine ‘Time’ matches Fives find themselves clear at the top of the table ahead of the chasing Billericay and Upminster – in effect one win back from our boys. Last seasons champions Epping (denied promotion due to technical regulations) have a virtually identical squad both find themselves down in 6th place already 50 points adrift. Arguably though, far too early to count them out but their margin for recovery reduces with every defeat or draw from now on.
Fives look in good shape. The batting looks incredibly strong and long even without Feroze having made an appearance to date. The bowling too appears to be in fine fettle with any concerns over the fifth bowler position seemingly resolved by the efforts of Jake, Radders and Henry Pratt.
A special mention must go for the skipper Brad Copper. New in post for 2024, after Jake released the reigns after many years of excellent captaincy, Brad has proved a tactically aggressive leader who’s laid back manner enables players to flourish but also isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers and hook a bowler (or slip fielder) if things aren’t going as he expects. The responsibility of leadership appears to have only focused his own game as up to Match Day 5, Brad was both the leading run scorer and wicket taker in the entire Division.
The Second XI are well placed in third spot. Three wins on the bounce have been followed by two less encouraging results but they look to be highly competitive following their relegation on the final day of last season.
The Third XI are placed even better with a 4-1 winning record and sit jointly in second place behind Billericay in Third XI Div 2.
The Fourth XI have also sustained a very positive start to the season with a 3-2 record and they are a mere 5 points from top spot in a division where six clubs all have an identical record to our side.
A hugely positive early season start across the board, but you don’t need to be a cricketing genius or scorebox badger to know the next 2 months of ‘Time’ cricket will define the season. If the boys can hold their nerve, continue to play hard aggressive cricket, not allow the demon of complacency to raise its unwanted head, then maybe – just maybe- …………no I refuse to say it!