Waltham
St Lawrence were pipped to victory in the last
over as they failed to chase 133 on a tricky early season
wicket. However, as is the case so many times, Waltham
were undone by their inability to finish a team off
in the field. Waltham started the game like a train
thundering into the opposition. Good early spells by
Nebbett and Ghulam yielded few runs and got the all
important breakthrough, Nebbett bowling Arooj for 4.
First change England was on the spot right from the
off bowling wicket to wicket causing lots of trouble
to the Rickmansworth batsmen and with Wasim Javed bowling
undoubtedly his best spell for WSL at the other end
Ricky were soon in trouble at 52 for 4.
This
gave Connor the perfect scenario to introduce his spin
pairing of Thomas and Smith and they didn't disappoint
with Thomas ripping through the middle order with 3
for 10 off his 5 overs.
Smith was in amongst
the wickets also as WSL took control but this is where
the wickets ended much to the frustration of Burge and
Thompson who saw catches dropped off their bowling as
Waltham searched for the killer punch.
As it
was a ninth wicket stand of 50 put some respectability
and belief back into the Rickmansworth effort but Waltham
were still hopeful of bagging a deserved victory.
Their reply got off to a steady start as Kiani
looked fluent driving through midwicket for a series
of twos. Rickmansworth were in the hunt early however
as Connor's dismal pre-season continued for 0 and when
McGee 2 and Thomas 0 joined him in the clubhouse Waltham
were wobbling.
There was no panic in the dressing
room as Chris England in the middle was beginning to
get the measure of the slow pitch driving with authority
and cutting late off the back foot. Burge survived a
first ball let off and a series of play and misses to
begin to recapture some form, smashing Ash through midwicket
before being bowled a few moments late.
Javed
then joined the rock which was England and they looked
like they could take Waltham to victory. England took
on the tutoring role and was talking Javed through the
innings but on 13 he took a swipe to a full ball and
was bowled.
This brought last weeks batting
hero Thompson to the crease and he again looked in good
nick driving sweetly. At the other end England, who
had reached an excellent 41 was bowled by a good Ash
delivery and Nebbett combined with Thompson to try to
win the game. They took Waltham to the brink but as
Thompson went for 9 and Ghulam for 7 Nebbett and Smith
entered the last 2 overs needing 12.
Waltham
still harboured hopes of victory till in the last over
Nebbett became the last man out to leave Waltham standed
5 runs short of victory.
Waltham will rue not
finishing the job in the field but also the mini collapse
of the top order which ultimately cost them.
Skipper Connor is set to name an unchanged side as he
takes his charges to Welford park for the first league
game of the season next week.
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