Exciting victory at Amersham
Jesters 278-8 (Chak 78, Clapp 51)
Amersham 233 all out (Mohammed 3-34)
Jesters won by 45 runs
Amersham have proved consistently formidable opponents over the years so this was a rare and impressive win led by skipper Chris Smith whose report will follow soon. In a 40 over contest, DJ Chak top scored with 78 after openers Adnan Mohammed and Shaun O'Brien with 42 apiece had laid the foundation. And Rowan Clapp (51) was back in the runs for the first time after his long injury lay-off.
At 167-3 with 15 overs left, Amersham looked favourites but Adnan Mohammed and Nick Mumby turned the tide, along with a snorter of a catch by Andy Mortimer. Match manager Chris Smith's report follows...
The Jesters pulled off an impressive victory against Amersham with only 10 men in another excellent encounter between these two clubs.
The Jesters won the toss in overcast conditions and opted to bat first. Despite the early swing in the first few overs, Shaun O'Brien and Adnan Mohammed began to settle quickly and were soon stroking the ball with elegance to all parts of the ground. O'Brien in particular was in great form playing some sublime shots through midwicket and the early run rate was exemplary until disaster struck as O'Brien was run out from a direct hit from the boundary - he made an excellent 42, the score 62-1 from just 7 overs.
Despite the loss of O'Brien the Jesters continued to score fluently, Mohammed making an assured 42, whilst DJ Chak and Rowan Clapp joined forces for a partnership of 115 in 16 overs. The batting was excellent to watch with boundaries coming regularly. Chak eventually fell for a brilliant 78, whilst Clapp made a blistering 51.
The Jesters lost wickets in the final few overs but still managed to post an impressive 278-7 from their 40 overs.
The Amersham reply was explosive as the openers set about chasing the large target. Jake Smyth, Andy Mortimer and Chris Smith all toiled away but boundaries were hard to restrict and when the Jesters took its first wicket the score was 68-1 from 8 overs.
Chak and O'Brien came into the attack and brought the run rate down significantly, both bowlers going at just over 4 runs per over. Chak then made the vital breakthrough with a hostile over in which he bounced out the dangers Bowcock before Andy Viney (who has scored big runs in previous years hooked a short ball to long leg, where Mortimer took an unbelievable catch above his head (with the ball travelling at great speed and very close to the boundary). This left Amersham 96-3 off 12 overs.
A good partnership ensued and the home side were keeping up with the run rate until the introduction of star bowler Nick Mumby changed the game in Jesters' favour. Mumby bowled superbly, tying the batsmen down and restricting run scoring brilliantly. He returned 8-3-17-1 - incredible figures considering the run rate of the Amersham innings.
Smyth returned to pick up two wickets at the other, whilst Mohammed came on to run through the tail and pick up 3-34 at the end. Amersham ended up 233 all out in the final over.
A great all round performance from the Jesters and many thanks to Amersham for hosting us at its wonderful ground (and kudos for continuing to play through the rain in order to get the match completed).
Jesters X: C Smith (c), Richards (wk), Mohammed, O'Brien, Harris, Chak, Clapp, Smyth, Mortimer, Mumby