A fantastic unbeaten maiden century from WSL
opener Matt Trudgill won the day for Waltham as they
chased down 219 to win with 3 overs to spare.
On a baking hot day at Oak Meadow Waltham won the toss
and elected to field hoping for early wickets. Hawley
began nervously as Huntingford spooned a drive just
over the predetory Kiani at short cover and Marchant
got a life as he was dropped by Barnes at square leg
both off the unfortunate Woolford.
Barnes however atoned for his earlier error as he took
a good catch to dismiss Marchant and Woolford was in
the wickets. Soon after Hawley were two down as Bridgeman
found the edge and Connor did the rest at slip. WSL
were well into the game but a partnership of 142 between
Huntingford and captain Harris would change the entire
complexion of the match. When Harris was finally out
for a well played 71, Hawley were 174 and with some
lusty hitting to follow they posted a very respectable
219.
After a long tea to accommodate the Portuguese disappointment,
openers Connor and Trudgill set about the onerous task
of chasing down Hawley's score. Both batsmen were watchful
at first setting a good platform as they put on 59 for
the first wicket until Connor was caught at point.
Trudgill at the other end was building what was to become
the match winning innings, merciless on anything short
or over pitched and watchful in defence of better length
balls he raced to 50. With Bridgeman joining him the
impetus of the game changed as he hit a flat swept six
then a huge lofted straight drive for a maximum. He
interspersed this with some deft touches as together
they took the score to 168 before Bridgeman was caught
for an excellently played 52.
In next was Ziggy Kiani who arrived to a cacophony of
cheers from his travelling army of drunken fans but
was soon into the action driving fluently and rotating
the strike with Trudgill. With 8 overs to go WSL still
needed 40 runs but a brutal over from Trudgill who plundered
13 from it, changed the scenario and also brought up
a fantastic century taking his average beyond 250 for
the season. It was indeed Trudgill who was left with
the honour of scoring the winning runs and WSL celebrated
an excellent victory.
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