An excellent opening spell
of quick bowling by Walthams Keith Lugthart and some
solid batting gave Waltham St Lawrence 2nds their first
victory of the season and a well deserved victory it
was. After winning the toss and putting the home side
in on a green tinged wicket Lugthart was soon into the
action bowling Bazeley and Kapoor in his second over.
Ghulum at the other end was bowling well but again with
no luck and it was Lugthart again who picked up the
next wicket bowling the fluent Jones for a well constructed
22. Waltham were well on top but they had to be patient
for the next wicket as C Augustus and M Bell put on
39 for the next wicket till Thomas enticed Bell to drive
in the air and took a confortable return catch.
Chris England was brought into the attack and initially
struggled with the slope but a switch of ends changed
everything and brought Waltham their fifth wicket. As
ex professional Alan Jones strode to the wicket Waltham
knew this was the key point in the match and when he
skied a full toss from Thomas which the bowled promptly
juggled then put down they knew they had missed a golden
opportunity.
However this didn't affect the away side and good bowling
from England, Javed and Lugthart put WSL on the brink
till Burge was brought on for one ball and what a ball
it was, a boomeranging yorker which clean bowled Jones
to leave Waltham needing 158 for victory in 49 overs.
After the break for tea, openers Connor and Thomas batted
sensibly working the ball around to put on 56 for the
opening wicket as Thomas was bowled by a great delivery
from youngster Augustus. Connor was out to a leading
edge soon after and this brought England to the crease.
Ably assisted by the ever improving Chris Sharpe the
two put on 35 for the third wicket to take Waltham close
to 100. Further contributions from Woolford and Christodoulou
took Waltham to the brink of victory till a small collapse
put everyone's nerves on edge. But after taking a wild
swipe at the first ball, Lugthart settled down and tickled
the final two required for victory.
This was a fantastic victory for the 2nds who continue
to improve and can now bury the ghost of 35 all out
from last season.
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