HENLEY completed their preparations for their forthcoming campaign in the Home Counties Premier League Division 1 with a convincing win over Surrey Premier League side, COBHAM AVORIANS on Saturday.
In a 50 over a side game, Henley were all out in the 47th over having scored 247 which featured worthy contributions by Michael Roberts, Dave Barnes, Chris Ellison, skipper Bjorn Mordt, Steve Horne and ’keeper Stewart Davison, all of which bodes well for the months to come.
In reply, Avorians, skippered by Berkshire stalwart Steve Naylor, were never really in the hunt and eventually holed out for 172. Naylor top scored with 31 and although O’Connell, Avorians’ highly regarded Australian who has been prolific in Grade Cricket in Western Australia in recent seasons, was unlucky to be run out for 0, the Avorians’ innings never gained the sort of momentum necessary to challenge the Henley score.
Pick of the Henley bowlers this week was Nick Denning with 4—24 off eight overs, though Dave Griffiths can consider himself unfortunate to have netted only one wicket in a six over spell that yielded but 19 runs whilst Keegan bagged a brace. All in all, a useful if somewhat less than demanding workout.
Tomorrow (Saturday 10.30am), Henley welcome Radlett to the Brakspear Ground in their first match of Division 1 of the HCPL and will be looking to get off to a winning start and gain early season momentum that was so lacking last year. Last season, Radlett were pretty fortunate to escape with a draw at Henley who ran out clear winners over at Radlett, largely courtesy of a virtuoso performance by Chad Keegan in all departments.
Radlett can be expected to field a competitive side. Their South African skipper Shane Berger is once again back at the club following knee surgery over the winter. Paul Barker. who badly broke a finger in the Henley game at Radlett. is back to full fitness and Radlett should also be able to draw on the services of the young and promising Middlesex player Kabir Toor as well as former Kent player Leo Sandino Taylor, a Radlett resident who has joined them over the close season from High Wycombe.
Radlett have won their two pre-season friendlies against Hemel Hampstead and Sunbury and will certainly be up for this game. They would doubtless dearly love to have the services of Middlesex’s Gareth Berg but that is unlikely as Berg currently appears to have secured himself a regular berth in the Middlesex first eleven. There is a perception amongst Radlett insiders that they are one or two players short of being real title contenders, but it would be unwise either to write them off or underestimate them.
Henley should be at full strength, the only question marks being over spinner Carl Crowe whose services continue to be in demand at Leicestershire, and maybe also Keegan for whom Middlesex may come calling for one day duty. In view of Middlesex’s recent dire one day reverses against Kent and Somerset, that may be increasingly likely.
Published on 11 May 2009
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