3rd May 2008
and it is the start of a new season. Despite the rain
that the ground had absorbed Waltham St
Lawrence were able to host Stratfield
Turgis for the first game of the season. As Owen, stand
in Skipper for the home side lost the toss, Clarke inserted
Waltham to bat.
Waltham St Lawrence openers Johnson and Harris (debut) batted
steadily setting an excellent platform for the innings.
Johnson’s 72, Harris 45 and Raja 35 helped Waltham
reach 205 for 6. Best bowling for Stratfield only coming
in the latter part of the Innings. Ayers and Clarke
taking the wickets (3 each) quickly after the fall of
Johnson and Harris as batsmen tried to move the run-rate
up.
205 looked a good platform
for the Waltham bowlers to attack
and so it proved. With openers M Sandland and Clarke
dismissed cheaply with 12 a piece they were soon followed
by A Sandland caught superbly by Woolford standing up
to the stumps for spinner Shah. Unfortunately Shah was
unable to continue due to an injured hand, although
this did not stop him taking the catch to dismiss Wright
for 37 as he and Spence (32) showed some resistance
in the middle overs – Harris dismissing both.
With Gearing clearing up the
next 3 wickets despite stubborn defence it looked like
it was Waltham’s for the taking.
The introduction on the pace of Lugthart for the final
overs looked designed to finish off the Stratfield batting,
however, with the 9th wicket
falling in the last ball of the game for a total Innings
of 122, Waltham just missed out on a good victory.
The start to Waltham
St Lawrence’s season has gone
well. With energetic fielding and a plethora of batting
if some consistency of performance can be achieved Waltham
1st’s ought to do well this season.
A highly sporting match from two sides who know each
other well, both sides look forward to meeting again
this season. |