Andrew Frank Smith's Page

I was surprised the GWR captain chose to field in the heat of the day until I saw him pace out his run to open the bowling.  He was obviously the team’s best asset and meant to prove it right from the start.  The first wickets fell however to the rookie at the other end.  Both Khalid and Rob Y played too soon to rank short balls; and it wasn’t until the sixth over that the old hand found a very good one to bowl Kashif.  The fact that the score was by then 49 was testimony to the frailties of…

The 4^th XI were soundly beaten by Hornsey 4^th in their first league game on Saturday, away, at the St Aloysius School ground.

Crouch End won the toss and fielded; but after 10 overs, and despite the best efforts of Nabil and Stuart, Hornsey’s experienced openers had put on 75 runs.  Andrew and Dominic exerted a bit more control; Andrew had both the openers caught behind by Khalid, had the first precocious youth caught by Peter at square leg then was…

The report of the last 4^th XI last league game will probably be the shortest.  Osterley 3rds would be top of the league but for points deducted after an altercation with Ickenham, yielding their place to Osterley 4ths who had beaten us with some comfort earlier in the year.  By a quirk of time-tabling we made the long trip to play both sides on their home ground

Both Osterley sides have been noisy, pleased with themselves, slightly chaotic but full of raw talent. …

Hornsey 4ths might have lost their home fixture on Saturday before it started.  As it was, they had to wait until Crouch End 4ths had bowled them out for 90 and knocked off the runs for the loss of 5 wickets.

At the 12.30pm start time they had one player, at 1pm they had four.  They were indulged with a 1.30pm start, when they won the toss and batted.  They produced two match balls which were not the league ones and, it transpired, fielded an ineligible player.  The Hornsey…