Chilterns Knockout Cup Final: Emmbrook & Bearwood v Denham
It was a Friday night showdown at the picturesque setting of Hurley Cricket Club for the final of the Chilterns Cup, with Emmbrook looking to retain their trophy against a strong looking Denham team.
Emmbrook batted first, with Matt Loxton carrying on with his fine form hitting three 4’s and a huge 6 before gloving a rising ball behind to the wicketkeeper for a rapid 20 in an opening stand of 47 with Ollie Williams.
This brought in the elegant Andy Lazenbury who played some very ‘ David Gower’ like strokes only to keep finding a fielder in the ring, finally holding out to a catch for 7 off 14 balls. At the other end Williams was playing some outstanding shots to the boundary to keep the score ticking on.
With the dismissal of Lazenbury on 73, Jason Middleton came in and out in a flash, being stumped for only 1 charging down the wicket and missing the ball, 75-3, then complete disaster with Williams being caught behind for 36, leaving Emmbrook wobbling at 75-4 with two new batsmen at the crease.
Further setbacks followed with Captain Jack Narrway caught trying a scoop shot for 9, then hard-hitting David Healey run out for 17 and Matt Booth caught for 4 to leave Emmbrook at 109-7.
With Jake David and Andy Robertson on at the crease, the last two overs were total carnage as both batsman let loose, with Robertson hitting a 4 and 6 in his 14 not out from six balls and Jake David also with 14 not out off only five balls, with a 4 and a 6 to give Emmbrook a total of 139 -7 off 15 eight ball overs.
The Denham reply got off to a helpful start from Emmbrook, with keeper Narraway letting the second ball skip away from him for 4 byes.
He soon made amends for this with a catch two balls later to dismiss the first Denham batsman off of Jason Middleton.
Denham lost their second wicket with a well taken catch from Loxton off of Charlie Sawyer, Denham now on 47-2.
Denham now began to boss the game putting on 50 for the third wicket, before the introduction of Lazenbury into the attack who, with his second ball, bowled the dangerous Denham opener who had hit 52 with six 4’s and three 6’s.
Emmbrook now fought back and with a magnificent stumping from Narraway, a direct hit run from Charlie Sawyer and a well taken catch on the boundary from Lazenbury off Andy Robertson, left Denham at 134-6 with 16 balls left.
Charlie Sawyer started the penultimate over with a wide, then with his next ball smashed the stumps, 135-7. Two balls later Sawyer hit the stumps again 135-8, unfortunately his next two deliveries were called wide, moving the score up to 137-8. This was then followed by a leg bye 138-8 then off his last ball a quick single 139-8 scores level.
Andy Lazenbury was given the near impossible task of bowling eight balls for nothing or taking two wickets in the final over, with all the field in and surrounding the wicket his first ball slipped past keeper Narraway and the two Denham tailenders ran through for a quick bye for victory by just two wickets.
A great game played with great sportsmanship with all the travelling Emmbrook supporters and players giving Denham a good round of applause and cheer for their victory when they lifted the cup.
Saturday’s league match the following day was called off because of the rain, as were all the fixtures in the league.
This keeps Emmbrook top by 54 points from Penn & Tylers Green.
Words and photos by Chris Cook