Harpsden v London Erratics Sat 5th May

Alfred the Great
by Mick Greenwood















The omens were not good for Harpsden, with the captain losing the important toss and then Ian Reissman capping off a bad week by getting hit in the eye during fielding practice. Even the return of last year’s top run scorer, Andy Bryan, did not help and Harpsden were reduced to a meagre 43 for 7, with the Erratics opening bowlers Prasad and Eltringham taking 3 and 4 wickets respectively. With backs to the wall, it required some heroics from the Harpsden tail to save them from the humiliation of losing before tea. That hero came in the form of 15 year old Alfred Cary, who ably supported by a captain’s innings from Mick Greenwood, set about the Erratics bowling with guile and tenacity reminiscent of the way his 9th Century namesake had dealt with the invading Danes. When Greenwood was bowled for 36 the pair had put on an eighth wicket stand of 97. Alfred was finally caught for 58 and Harpsden were all out for a respectable 165. After tea, containment was the aim and, after 23 overs, Erratics had only managed a paltry 68, with Chris Welford doing particularly well having been asked to bowl medium pace instead of his usual spin. Although keeping the runs down, Harpsden were struggling to see where a wicket would come from until up stepped Alfred Cary again to take a great catch off his own bowling and then having Rivington caught behind to remove the stubborn openers. Tight and accurate spin from Mike Farmer and Ben Hancock kept the pressure on and with Erratics losing a steady stream of wickets they never looked as though they would reach the total. The match was drawn with Erratics finishing on 155 for 8.

Harpsden

I Reissman lbw Eltringham 13
J Bradley c Eltringham 10
A Bryan c Eltringham 10
R Harris b Prasad 6
M Shanahan lbw Eltringham 0
C Welford c Prasad 0
M Farmer b Prasad 2
M Greenwood b Rivington 36
A Cary c Dunobin 58
B Hancock b Rivington 4
R Moyle not out 2
Extras 24

TOTAL 165

Best bowling: Eltringham 4 for 38

London Erratics

Rivington c Moyle, b Cary 27
Rowland c&b Cary 25
Prasad lbw, b Farmer 25
Berrigan c Moyle, b Greenwood 0
S Green c Moyle, b Hancock 26
Eltringham c Bryan, b Hancock 17
Davey run out 6
Dunobin not out 2
Green c Moyle, b Hancock 7
Bush not out 2
Extras 18

TOTAL (8 wkts) 155

Best bowling: Hancock 3 for 46
Cary 2 for 15