Hammers Back in Action in London T20

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Local Cricketers compete against teams from 11 other boroughs

Hammersmith and Fulham's own Hammers will be back on Wandsworth Common on Sunday, July 5, for their third appearance in London T20, the new grass roots version of the famous World Twenty20 cricket tournament.

The tournament features teams from 12 London boroughs battling it out for the top prize of £11,000 and as team captain Ben Smith reports, the Hammers are heading for the pitch with high hopes after a successful day on the common last Sunday.

Over to Ben:

Following two defeats on the trot the previous week, the Hammers needed some big improvements to make it in to the top eight and therefore be in contention for the finals.

First up this week was Barnet. Winning the toss, the Hammers' Captain Ben Smith elected to bat first, despite the bowler friendly wicket.

The decision was vindicated as the Hammers posted a formidable 144 from their 20 overs, with the Captain himself top-scoring with a quick fire 48 from 25 balls including a huge six that not only cleared the boundary rope by quite some way, but would have been hit clear out of the common had it not hit a tree.

The Hammers' bowlers took to their task with gusto, snaring regular wickets with rising T20 stars Pramod Bhaskaran and Rukshan Weeraratne bowling good line and length. Rukshan was the pick of the bowlers taking two wickets from his four overs and giving away only 15 runs.

Newcomer Stephen Chippendale pitched in with a good spell, taking a wicket with his very first ball in T20 cricket. It was to be the Hammers day as all the catches were held, leaving Barnet capitulating in the 15th over 61 runs short.

Next up for the Hammers was Ealing – so far winless in the tournament and their luck was not about to change. They lost the toss and were sent in to field by the Hammers' Captain.

Stephen Chippendale, promoted to opener, smashed his way to 90 runs from 58 balls hitting shots at and over the short Wandsworth boundaries. Poor Ealing were staring down the barrel as the Hammers stormed to 92 runs for the loss of one wicket in the tenth over.

The following 10 overs went for a relatively fewer seven runs per over as Ealing staged a minor comeback taking regular wickets but still failing to prevent the Hammers from bludgeoning their way to 170 in their 20 overs.

A relaxed Hammers took to the field to finish the job  - howeve, r complacency had sneaked its way in to the camp and the Hammers' bowlers struggled to find their line, giving away plenty of extras and giving Ealing a sniff of victory. Ultimately though, it was just a sniff as Ealing lacked the firepower to come close. The Hammers' fielding reigned supreme with Ben Smith leading from the front in the field taking three catches and Edd Stobbart contributing with a stunning left handed catch on the run.

With two wins on the board, the Hammers are now in the top eight and looking to keep the momentum going, with games against the so far unbeaten Harrow Franchise and the highly regarded Brent Franchise.

The action kicks off on the common at midday, so go along and cheer them on!

18th June 2009