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Camden New Journal - by STEVE BARNETT
Published: 3 July 2008

Highgate’s Tony Duckett on his way to taking a superb five-wicket haul during his side’s win over Ickenham

Highgate rescue win to stay top

Skipper pays tribute to team’s resolve as leaders snatch two-wicket victory

HIGHGATE remain top of the Division Three table in the Middlesex County Cricket League after recording a nervy two-wicket victory over Ickenham on Saturday at Shepherd’s Cot.
Stand-in skipper Craig Gourlay won the toss and decided to send his side, made up of players from across Camden and Islington, into the field to start their attack.
After a few loose overs Tony Duckett found his rhythm and made the breakthrough when he removed Ickenham opener Tim Budd with a late in-swinging yorker.
Duckett soon claimed his second victim when Jake Sharland took a comfortable catch in slip to remove Daniel Cooper. Duckett completed his hat-trick with the ball of the day, a delightful leg cutter which hit the top of off-stump.
Sharland was rewarded for all his hard work with two wickets in quick succession, while Duckett also pitched in again to take a further two wickets of his own. In the end Duckett claimed five wickets for just 32 runs, while Sharland finished on 2-46 as Ickenham were dismissed for 106 off 31 overs.
Following a quick changeover, Highgate began their chase with Matt Holly tickling one to the keeper after looking fluent in a brief stay at the crease that lasted just eight runs. Sharland was also quickly dismissed and Highgate appeared in early strife at 12-2.
Things went from bad to worse for the home side when Ponniah Vijendran fell LBW, Nick Brunner arrived late on a pull shot and Freddie Barrass edged a wide ball to leave Highgate struggling on 26-6.
But captain Gourlay led by example to record a valuable knock of 37, while debutant David Hill added what proved a vital score of 13. Fellow debutant Keith Widelski waded in with 11 more runs to lead Highgate to a winning score of 107-8 off 34.5 overs.
Gourlay said: “It was a gutsy win and a great team performance. Our bowling and ground fielding were excellent.
“After losing early wickets, the guys in the middle and lower order batted very sensibly and showed a lot of discipline to chase down the total.”
Meanwhile, in Division One, Hampstead slipped to their fourth defeat of the season despite declaring with a respectable score of 282-8 in their match against league leaders Teddington.
But Teddington showed their title credentials with a stunning seven-wicket victory after finishing on 286-3.
There was better news for South Hampstead, who recorded a four-wicket win over North London to move within four points of league leaders North Middlesex in Division Two.

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