Harpsden v Woodcote at Harpsden 25th April 2009

BIG GEORGE OPENS DOORS TO EARLY HARPSDEN SUCCESS

Innings of Woodcote:

J Wheeler Ct b Mitchell 82
M Vickers Ct b Hodgkiss 0
D Ravenhill b Hepburn 14
S Gordon Ct b Hayden 19
T Broard Ct b Paice 19
S Allaway Ct b Stevens 18
P Roberts Not Out 6
S Henderson Not Out 3

Total 178/6 40 Overs

M Hodgkiss 1/10 W Stevens 1/25

Innings of Harpsden:

A Grimmer Lbw b Broard 0
J Paice Ct b Broard 5
D Hayden Ct b Duck 9
A Bryan b Henderson 50
M Hodgkiss b Broard 27
W Stevens Ct b Roberts 25
R Harris b Wheeler 10
T Mitchell b Broard 6
G Hepburn Not Out 25
C Mitchell Not Out 1

Total 179/8 40 Overs

T Broard 4/33

Harpsden won by 2 wickets

Harpsden got the season off to a terrific start on Saturday with a well earned win against Woodcote.
After loosing the toss things looked ominous early on for Harpsden as James Wheeler was making full use of the good wicket and was making finding the boundary look easy. However, the bowlers stuck to the task well and supported by some excellent catching wickets were falling. In particular Danny Hayden took a fantastic diving effort on the boundary to record an early contender for catch of the season.
Although wickets were falling at the other end it was Wheeler who was proving to be the thorn in Harpsden side. It was left to two debutants Chris Mitchell and James Paice who took a well judged catch to remove the danger man for 82. The bowling was very tight towards the end of the innings and restricted Woodcote to 178.
In response Harpsden stuttered early on, like the old sports car left in the garage for a few months but after a couple of early set backs Harpsden were soon up and running.
Hodgkiss and Bryan were finding the boundary at regular intervals and a partnership of 67 was soon put together to take Harpsden over the 100 mark.
However when these wickets fell the match swung back in the favour of Woodcote who were bowling well and starting to take there catches in the field.
What happened next will be remembered for years to come, with the score at 154/8 George Hepburn set about smashing the ball to all corners, his innings of 25 off just 9 was finished off with a huge six which took Harpsden to victory.