Teddies picnic after Hugh’s collapse
Teddy Hall strengthened their case for gaining promotion to the First Division after a tight victory over St Hugh’s in Somerville last week. A clatter of early St Hugh’s wickets ruined this potentially enthralling clash with the visitors making decisive in-roads into their opponents’ top order in the first hour of the game.
Although Hugh’s fought hard in both batting and bowling dimensions, they struggled by finishing 112 all out in the game’s first innings, and eventually lost by six wickets to a delighted Hall side. Teddy Hall’s Will Stevens made the initial breakthrough by forcing an edge from Oakes which was brilliantly caught in the gully.
However, the main damage was done by Rory Ashmore, when he dismissed Venkat Yeluri and Ewan Maddock in one over, on his way to claiming impressive bowling figures of three wickets for just 12 runs. Faiz Nagutha took advantage of the ensuing chaos among the tail to pick up figures of three for 20. A lively pitch was not fully exploited by Teddy Hall, whose bowling tended towards being generally competent rather than spectacular in any way.
However, persistently accurate bowling was made to look lethal by a combination of committed and excellent fielding (which saw six catches held), astute captaincy from Hall captain James Hogan and a degree of good fortune. For St. Hugh’s, only Joe Thornton possessed the patience and technique to craft an innings of note. His 53 anchored his side and highlighted what could be achieved by playing in a conservative manner.
Unfortunately for Hugh’s, Thornton was unable to find a partner from among the Hugh’s lower order, resulting in visiting bowler Hogan forcing Thornton into playing single runs so that his bowlers could bowl at a lesser batsman. A good bowling display by Hugh’s made Hall work hard for their runs.
Patrick Ell steamed down the hill and found a breakthrough in the first over of the visitors’ innings, when a feisty delivery took the shoulder of Andy Miller’s bat and looped gently up to point. Ell subsequently trapped Paul Smith with a plumb LBW to leave the Teddies in significant trouble at 17-2. However, Hall captain Hogan registered a patient 43 and found a sturdy sidekick in Jack Furniss, who chipped in with 26.
Hogan and Furniss patiently built towards the target, sharing an admirable partnership of 64, and by the time they were both dismissed by Thornton (2-18), the victory was already assured, as Hall eventually found their way to the target. Hugh’s captain Vic Kandampully felt his side started poorly: “The three early wickets were very damaging. Once you’re eight for three you need people to grind out a score so that you can make a decent total.
Joe Thornton did that for us and James Hogan did it for Hall; the difference was that Hogan had a partner staying with him.” Hall’s captain Hogan acknowledged the efforts of his bowlers: “Rory [Ashmore] was excellent. The early breakthrough he created set up the whole match for us.
This victory edges Teddy Hall closer to a possible promotion slot to the First Division, and leaves Hugh’s with work to do on their batting if they also want to challenge for honours come the end of the season.
18th May 2006