Harpsden vs Old Josephians - 29th May

On a cloudy and damp afternoon, Harpsden won the toss and put the Old Joesphians into bat on what seemed to be a slow and sticky wicket. With the clouds the opening bowlers were rubbing their hands together in the thought of a swinging ball. 15 year olds Christian Whittaker and Ed Birkett opened the bowling with enthusiasm and pace, and frequently beating the bat. Ed broke the 50 run opening partnership with a fine edge to a great away swinger to the safe hands of father Rod behind the stumps. Tom Hancock came on to bowl a fabulous spell of 4 for 33 which included 3 very good catches by the young teenagers. From the other end our newcomer, Ben Rinck, bowled an exceptional spell taking 4 for 13 off 7.4 overs. The clouds started to darken with the threat of heavy rain. Fortunately they passed over with only a few minutes of rain. At 5 O’clock the players took tea with the Old Joesphians all out for 101.

The Harspden openers, Kit Stormont and Mark Thomas, got off to a rapid start with Kit hitting a very quick 20. The first wicket to fall was the run out of Thomas with some fine fielding from backward point. Matt Shannahan was unfortunately bowled first ball by a stunner from Patel. This brought Tom Rose out from the dressing room with Harpsden on 24 for 2. An excellent caught and bowled by Hill to dismiss Stormont brought in Huysinga on his debut. He started off solidly in partnership with Rose before some more great fielding ended the partnership. At 36 for 4, Rod Birkett came in and with Huysinga steadied the ship moving the score on promisingly towards the total. But the Old Joesphians, fielding like tigers, put their bodies on the line. Harspden’s 5th wicket fell at 72 with a wonderful ball by O’ Donohue. Aggressive stroke play from the incoming Christian Whittaker ended the match swiftly with Huysinga finishing on 29 and Whittaker on 25.


Old Josephians

McGuire Ct Birkett.R b Birkett.E 20
Daniels Ct Stormont b Rinck 39
Mitchener.P Ct Rinck b Hancock.T 1
Mitchener.J Ct C.Whittaker b Hancock.T 2
Patel Ct Birkett. E. b Hancock.T 2
De Giovanni b Rinck 3
Ahern b Hodgkiss 2
Grindrod.P b Rinck 4
Grindrod.R Ct Hancock.T b Rinck 1
Hill Ct Stormont b Hancock.T 1
O'Donohue Not Out 6

Extras 20
Total All Out 101


Best Bowling; Rinck 4-13, Hancock T 4-33


Harpsden

Stormont C&B Hill 20
Thomas Run Out 4
Shannanhan b Patel 0
Rose Run Out 8
Huysinga Not Out 29
Birkett.R b O' Donohue 20
Whittaker.C Not Out 25

Extras 11
Total 5 Wickets 107


Best Bowling; O'Donohue 1-14








photos by Alfred Cary