Harpsden Triumph in Local Derby

After a big win in the local derby against Greys Green on Saturday HARPSDEN were feeling confident before their 40 overs encounter with HENLEY. Henley had elected to bat at the Breakspear Ground on a typically fast and bouncy wicket, if not a touch damp. Harpsden opening bowler Ollie Heath sent down the first over at a ferocious pace finding the edge on a couple of occasions and testing the batsmen with the shorter ball, but the first wicket fell in the 2^nd over to 15 year old quick Tom Nugent. This started a mini collapse for Henley with Harpsden bowling 4 successive wicket maidens leaving Henley 8 for 4. The two Johnson youngsters started a Henley recovery taking the score up to 35 before the fall of the next wicket, another for Tom Nugent as N.Johnson was excellently caught in the gully by Tom Ham. Harpsden veteran Miles Hodgkiss was then brought into the attack and bowled an 8 over spell for just 15 runs to dampen the chances of Henley reaching 150. James Paice was keen to impress against his former club and took 3 wickets, which along with 2 run outs left Henley all out for 118 in the 39^th over. Paice was ably assisted by his fielders with Horatio Cary’s diving catch in the covers and Miles Hodgkiss’ diving fumble and recovery in the slips both contenders for catch of the season.

Harpsden came out after tea knowing batting out the 40 overs would surely see them to victory but got off to the worst possible start as Neil Sweet was dismissed for a duck. Adam Hurst was the next man to go after a hard hitting 29, including 7 boundaries. The Harpsden batsmen were clearly enjoying the quicker covered wicket and made swift work of the remaining runs especially Horatio Cary who finished 57 not out, having hit 50 in boundaries. Credit must also go to Jack Broome, who ably assisted Cary and hit the shot of the day; a truly massive six down the ground hitting the top of the trees surrounding the boundary. Harpsden reached Henley’s total for the loss of two wickets and in just 17.5 of their 40 overs.

Henley C.C.

H.Briszland ct. A.Hurst b. O.Heath 8

M.Ayres b. T.Nugent 0

S.Burringham ct. J.Broome b. O.Heath 0

D.White ct. H.Cary b. T.Nugent 0

N.Johnson ct. T.Ham b. T.Nugent 13

A.Johnson Run Out 14

L.Dennison ct. H.Cary b. J.Paice 48

R.Kenworthy ct. A.Hurst b. J.Paice 17

J.Gunasekara Not Out 2

M.Thomas Run Out 0

C.Johnson ct. M.Hodgkiss b. J.Paice 0

Sub Total 102

Extras 16

Total (all out) 118

Best Bowling: J.Paice 3-16, T.Nugent 3-18, O.Heath 2-22

Harspden C.C.

N.Sweet ct. C.Johnson b. L.Dennison 0

A.Hurst ct. R.Kenworthy b. D.White 29

H.Cary Not Out 57

J.Broome Not Out 30

Sub Total 116

Extras 5

Total (2wkts) 121

Best Bowling: L.Dennison 1-35