Harpsden See Off Shark Attack

Result: Harpsden win by 43 runs.

Harpsden Innings
Total 176-7
N Adley b R Wilson 23
W Stevens b B Bolton 49
T Hancock b B bolton 20
O Heath ct R Wilson b Fooks 5
R Harris ct J Atkinson b M Bolton 44
T Ham ct Jenkins b Gill 18
R Youdale not out 13
B Hancock run out 10
Extras 10

Best bowling B Bolton 8-2-18-2

Shiplake Innings
Total 133-9
Coombes ct Farmer b Stevens 2
Fooks ct Stevens b Ham 31
M Bolton run out 21
J Atkinson ct Moyle b T Hancock 15
D Jenkins ct Farmer B Hancock 1
K Ellis ct Ham b B Hancock 11
R Wilson st R Moyle b B Hancock 14
M Gill st R Moyle b B Hancock 11
Strudwick b T Hancock 1
B Bolton not out 8
T Atkinson not out 0
Extras 17

R Ashmore 8-2-22-0
W Stevens 4-2-4-1
M Farmer 8-1-18-0
T Ham 5-2-19-1
B Hancock 8-0-41-4
T Hancock 7-1-23-2

A 40 over per side format was agreed by the captains with Harpsden to bat first. The temperature was as warm as it had been all summer as Harpsden opened their innings with Nick Adley and Will Stevens. The pair put on 58 runs in the first 12 overs before Adley was clean bowled by a Wilson yorker for 23. Stevens, who had made 91 the previous day, continued to bat confidently dispatching one straight drive over the road for six.

The introduction of Bobby Bolton to the attack helped to keep the run rate in check. He claimed two wickets including that of Stevens for 49. His spell of 8 overs cost just 18 runs.

Harpsden needed some fresh impetus to their innings and it came in the form of Rob Harris who smashed 44 runs in his usual no nonsense style. Harpsden finished their innings strongly to post a total of 176 runs from their allotted 40 overs.

Shiplake got off to a relatively slow start in their reply with 48 runs coming from the first 20 overs for the loss of two wickets. Harpsden bowled accurately and fielded well with Mike Farmer bowling a spell of 8 overs for 18 runs and Rory Ashmore a spell of 8 overs for 22 runs. Fooks made a good contribution of 31 runs before the pressure to score more quickly led to him being caught out in the covers. M Bolton also batted well before being run out for 21.

The Shiplake middle order looked to up the scoring rate but no batsman could put together a big score. Spinner Ben Hancock claimed 4 wickets including two stumpings aided by wicket keeper Richard Moyle. The Sharks finished their 40 overs with a total of 133 runs for the loss of 9 wickets.

Shiplake will be looking to avenge their loss when the two sides meet again on Sunday the 2nd of September.