Harpsden vs Medmenham

HARPSDEN v MEDMENHAM, Sunday 6 May.

‘FATHERS,SONS,HAMSTRINGS and RUNNERS.’

Batting first Harpsden selected three ‘father and son’ combinations for their match against Medmenham on Sunday at the picturesque Harpsden ground.Seventeen year old Sam Imlay and his ageless father Andrew opened the batting and established a solid partnership before both fell with the total on 54.Fifteen year old Christian Whittaker anchored the innings with a patient 43,including two big sixes,and was ably assisted by Tom Hancock with an intelligent innings of 20 before being bowled by Dring.This brought Harpsden’s own Adam Gilchrist to the wicket,Rod Birkett,who accelerated rapidly to 65 in an innings that included eleven 4’s and two 6’s enabling Harpsden to post a total of 224 for 7 at tea.
In response Medmenham started solidly with Freeman and Richard Birkett (no relation) reaching 24 before young Harry Williams trapped Freeman lbw Fifteen year old Ed Birkett took the first of his two clean bowled wickets in a very sharp spell of genuine pace and bounce that saw him return figures of 2 for 18 off 8 overs.The veteran leg spinner,Ian Whittaker,whilst struggling against a crisp breeze,bowled his longest spell for many a decade and was amply rewarded with 3 for 40 off 8 overs including a wonderfully athletic catch by his son Christian to dismiss Horsten and a sharp reflex catch by the elder Imlay at first slip to dismiss Birkett, and his runner.At 48 for 5 it became apparent that Medmenham’s pre season net at the MCC indoor school last week had unfortunately taken its toll as at one stage they had four batsmen out in the middle,two runners and two batsmen,to support the fatigued and stretched hamstrings of their middle order.Despite some stoic resistance from Freeman,not out 18,the Medmenham innings closed at 88 all out ensuring a comfortable win for Harpsden’s young and old.

SCOREBOARD
HARPSDEN INNINGS.
S Imlay 23
A Imlay 24
C Whittaker 43
A Norton 3
O Heath 4
T Hancock 20
R Birkett 65
J Broome not out 2
I Whittaker not out 6
Total 224 for 7
Bowling.
Baxter 3 for 60 ,Tierney 1 for 77,Dring 1 for 38

MEDMENHAM INNINGS.
Freeman 8
Birkett 19
Tierney 5
Watson-Smith 5
Freeman 0
Horsten 10
Baxter0
Dring 2
Birkett 5
Freeman not out 18
Baxter 0
Total 88 all out.

Bowling. Williams 1 for 16,Ed Birkett 2 for 18,Ian Whittaker 3 for 40,Andrew Imlay 1 for 2,Christian Whittaker 0 for 2,Tom Hancock 1 for1