Harpsden's young bowlers on top
Greys Green won a very good toss and put Harpsden into bat under cloudy skies and on a seaming pitch. All the Harpsden batsmen found the going tough with a slow outfield also restricting the scoring rate. Marathon, and high quality opening spells from Ahmed and Shafqat left Harpsden at 52 for 4 after 23 overs before the first bowling change was seen. It was at this point that the Harpsden middle order started to make some impression with Hodgkiss scoring a quality 29, Ian Whittaker a cultured 17 and Rod Birkett a typically hard-hitting 32. A final flurry from Mike Farmar left Harpsden with a barely defendable score of 145.
Clearing skies and a dryer outfield meant that Greys Green undoubtedly got the better of the batting conditions but Harpsden's young bowlers weren't going to be deterred. The two 15 year old opening bowlers, Ed Birkett and Christian Whittaker, bowled with great variation and control ending with figures of 10 - 5 - 21 - 1 and 7 - 3 - 11 - 1 respectively. This tight bowling ensured that Greys Green were always going to have to try to push the score along when the change bowlers came on. The time Greys looked to be in complete control was when Matt Skilleter and Mohamed Shafqat were at the crease; although a good catch behind the stumps by Matt Shanahan off Mike Farmar to dismiss Skilleter proved to be the turning point. A great caught and bowled by Farmar and one cutting back from Birkett to clean bowl Ahmed gave Harpsden a sniff of victory although Shafqat and young Hoskins managed to hold on well for the last 6 overs to earn a draw for Greys.
Harpsden
R. Harris c. Skilleter b. Shafqat 12
J. Bradley c. Barclay-Watt b. Shafqat 12
A. Bryan c. Shafqat b. Ahmed 4
A. Norton c. Chesterton b. Ahmed 6
M. Hodgkiss lbw b. McLeod 29
I. Whittaker b. McLeod 18
R. Birkett c. Howse b. Ahmed 32
C. Whittaker st. Chesterton b. McLeod 1
M. Shanahan b. Ahmed 2
E. Birkett not out 2
M. Farmar not out 10
Extras 17
TOTAL for 9 wkts 145
Best bowling; Ahmed 4 for 42, McLeod 3 for 43
Greys Green
N. Dennis caught and bowled C. Whittaker 4
Cross b. Hodgkiss 7
D. Barclay-Watt lbw b. Hodgkiss 7
M. Skilleter c. Shanahan b. Farmar 30
M. Shafqat not out 31
McLeod lbw b. Farmar 5
Hoggart caught and bowled Farmar 0
B. Ahmed b. E. Birkett 0
Hoskins not out 3
Extras 27
TOTAL for 7 wkts 114
Best Bowling; Farmar 3 for 31, Hodgkiss 2 for 30
Greys Green won a very good toss and put Harpsden into bat under cloudy skies and on a seaming pitch. All the Harpsden batsmen found the going tough with a slow outfield also restricting the scoring rate. Marathon, and high quality opening spells from Ahmed and Shafqat left Harpsden at 52 for 4 after 23 overs before the first bowling change was seen. It was at this point that the Harpsden middle order started to make some impression with Hodgkiss scoring a quality 29, Ian Whittaker a cultured 17 and Rod Birkett a typically hard-hitting 32. A final flurry from Mike Farmar left Harpsden with a barely defendable score of 145.
Clearing skies and a dryer outfield meant that Greys Green undoubtedly got the better of the batting conditions but Harpsden's young bowlers weren't going to be deterred. The two 15 year old opening bowlers, Ed Birkett and Christian Whittaker, bowled with great variation and control ending with figures of 10 - 5 - 21 - 1 and 7 - 3 - 11 - 1 respectively. This tight bowling ensured that Greys Green were always going to have to try to push the score along when the change bowlers came on. The time Greys looked to be in complete control was when Matt Skilleter and Mohamed Shafqat were at the crease; although a good catch behind the stumps by Matt Shanahan off Mike Farmar to dismiss Skilleter proved to be the turning point. A great caught and bowled by Farmar and one cutting back from Birkett to clean bowl Ahmed gave Harpsden a sniff of victory although Shafqat and young Hoskins managed to hold on well for the last 6 overs to earn a draw for Greys.
Harpsden
R. Harris c. Skilleter b. Shafqat 12
J. Bradley c. Barclay-Watt b. Shafqat 12
A. Bryan c. Shafqat b. Ahmed 4
A. Norton c. Chesterton b. Ahmed 6
M. Hodgkiss lbw b. McLeod 29
I. Whittaker b. McLeod 18
R. Birkett c. Howse b. Ahmed 32
C. Whittaker st. Chesterton b. McLeod 1
M. Shanahan b. Ahmed 2
E. Birkett not out 2
M. Farmar not out 10
Extras 17
TOTAL for 9 wkts 145
Best bowling; Ahmed 4 for 42, McLeod 3 for 43
Greys Green
N. Dennis caught and bowled C. Whittaker 4
Cross b. Hodgkiss 7
D. Barclay-Watt lbw b. Hodgkiss 7
M. Skilleter c. Shanahan b. Farmar 30
M. Shafqat not out 31
McLeod lbw b. Farmar 5
Hoggart caught and bowled Farmar 0
B. Ahmed b. E. Birkett 0
Hoskins not out 3
Extras 27
TOTAL for 7 wkts 114
Best Bowling; Farmar 3 for 31, Hodgkiss 2 for 30
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