On a surprisingly good April batting wicket,
local teams Hurst and WSL served up a keenly fought
match that went down to the last over.
Waltham skipper Damon Hill invited Hurst to bat.
The home team started steadily and reached 28 before Harris bowled Hollingsworth
in his first over. Although moving on at four an over,
wickets started to tumble steadily for Hurst: Aldred
snapping up a sharp catch in the covers off Harris and
Matt Andrews weighed in with three wickets. Opener Smith
continued to give stubborn resistance and when joined
by Knawlost pushed the score on to 140 for 2 without
another wicket falling. A surprise late addition of
Paul Gearing
brought new life to the bowling attack. Although debutante
keeper Kieran Bridges picked up two smart chances, Hurst
still managed to reach 201 for 8 in their forty overs.
In reply WSL did not get off to the best of
replies, with opener Ashton clean bowled by Hurst’s
youthful opening bowler. But with Gearing(33n.o.) opening
and in a hurry due to early departure, runs started
to fly off the bat. Joined by the in form Harris(56),
the pair put on fifty in five overs! Unfortunately,
the excitement waned as Gearing had to leave the field.
However, Kieran Bridges gave good support to Harris
who went on to reach his second fifty in consecutive
weeks and the WSL score eased past the hundred with
the loss of only two wickets.
Harris wanting to push on, lost patience and
holed out to mid-on but Andrews (27) joined Bridges
and the pair batted steadily until Bridges was forced
to retire with a groin strain. Andrews fell lbw in the
next over and suddenly Hurst were finding confidence.
When fellow new comer, Kumar, arrived at the crease
but failed to get off the mark, England and Hill found
themselves at the crease with forty needed off the last
eight overs. Hurst made runs hard to come by, with some
tight bowling and defensive field setting and when the
Waltham skipper played on, the task of securing victory
appeared less likely. However, Chris England (23 n.o.)
supported by Lughart (5) crept closer to the target
but just fell short on 198 for 7 at 40 overs.
This competitive match was
played in a good spirit and proved an excellent work
out. WSL bowlers are going to need to get into their
rhythm earlier and there is room for improvement on
the fielding before next Saturday’s first league match.
However, the first XI’s good start to the season continues. |