Chearsley 4 July 2025

Manager Pete King

Lost by 5 Wickets

SOA 225 all out (Shiraz Husain 97)

Chearsley CC 228 for 5 

Friday afternoon at Chearsley provided ideal conditions for cricket, with the sun breaking through just as captain Peter King won the toss and elected to bat first on what appeared a decent batting surface. The decision initially bore fruit as Shiraz Husain settled into his work with characteristic elegance.

After Fred Price departed early for 16, undone by Ross's nagging line, Husain found an able ally in Junaid Aziz. The pair batted with increasing fluency, their partnership of 117 providing the backbone of the SOA innings. Aziz's contribution of 30 was invaluable, mixing watchful defence with well-judged aggression before falling to the wily R Biggs, smartly stumped by keeper M Goodchild.

Husain continued majestically, caressing the ball to all parts in compiling a superb 97. His dismissal - caught off R Biggs when a century beckoned - marked a turning point as the middle order struggled to maintain momentum. Ben Jefferies showed glimpses of resistance with 23, while King himself chipped in with a useful 18, but the introduction of D Biggs proved SOA's undoing.

In one extraordinary over that will be talked about in the pavilion for years to come, D Biggs claimed Colin Allen (trapped plumb lbw), Dave Allen (comprehensively bowled) and Craig Foster (another clean bowled) to complete a remarkable hat-trick. This came after a dramatic 15-minute delay due to kit and padding up issues relating to the SOA overseas, Craig Foster.

R Biggs was equally impressive throughout his spell, his 4-0-11-3 a masterclass in control and guile, including a rather good googly. The SOA innings subsided to 225 all out, perhaps 30 runs short of where they'd hoped to be.

Chearsley's response was anchored by Mark Goodchild's masterful unbeaten 94. After James Collins struck early to remove Lazarack without scoring, Goodchild displayed the temperament and technique that has served Chearsley so well over the years. He found willing accomplices in B Caiger (36) and Connelly (24), but it was his 84-run stand with J Burnham (53) that effectively sealed SOA's fate.

James Collins showed great determination bowling uphill, wheeling away for 11 overs of exemplary control to finish with 1-71, while Ben Jefferies chipped in with two wickets. The fielding effort never flagged despite the afternoon heat, but Goodchild's unwavering concentration and clinical shot selection meant Chearsley reached their target with five wickets and several overs to spare.

Special mention must go to D Biggs for his sensational hat-trick - a moment of pure theatre that had the SOA onlookers applauding from the pavilion - and to Shiraz for yet another innings of real quality that deserved three more runs. The spirit in which the game was played was exemplary throughout, with Chearsley proving gracious hosts.

Our thanks to Chearsley for their warm hospitality, to the groundsman for preparing such a good track, and to the officials who contributed to an absorbing afternoon's cricket.