Harpsden Hammer Hambleden

Hambleden

J Wright ct Imlay b Hayden 14
G Bridges ct Harris b B Hancock 2
C Waller b B Hancock 11
S Bradford ct Moyle b Wright 6
P Rosier ct W Stevens W b Wright 64
I Wright b W Stevens 48
N Arnold ct Hayden b W Stevens 7
D Cannon Not Out 3
S Mattingley b W Stevens 1

TOTAL 183-8
Extras 27
Best Bowling : W Stevens 3-17, B Hancock 2-8

Harpsden
S Imlay ct Rosier b Cannon 62
I Reissman b S Mattingley 17
R Harris b S Mattingley 2
A Bryan b Hodgkiss 34
W Stevens Not Out 16
D Hayden Not Out 47

TOTAL 189-4
Extras 11
Best Bowling: S Mattingley 2-35, D Cannon 1-30

Harpsden welcomed Hambleden on a humid September day, with many Harpsden players looking to make a final impression before the end of season awards that evening.

Harpsden started off very strongly with the ball, with leg spinner Hancock, and Hepburn placing the ball is very good areas. Hancock made the breakthrough, with Bridges trying to turn the ball onto the leg side, only to edge it low down into the safe hands of Harris at first slip. Hancock struck again a couple of overs later, bowling Waller through the gate. Hepburn was replaced by Wright at the other end, and after a few warm up deliveries, settled into a nice rhythm, often tempting the batsmen into the drive. Hancock was continuing to bowl tightly, and after his 8 over spell he returned with very impressive figures of 8-3-8-2. Hayden was the next man to make a breakthrough, having Wright caught at mid off for 14. This brought another Wright to the crease, and he quickly settled in, smashing the ball to all parts for his quick fire 48. When Wright was bowled by Stevens by a brilliant slower ball, he and Rosier, who despite turning up late, batted brilliantly for his 64, had put on a 92 for the fifth wicket, which had put Hambleden back into a competitive position. However, Stevens quickly ruined any chance of a big total, taking a further 2 wickets, to leave Hambleden on 183-8 after their 40 overs.

Harpsden started their run chase knowing that 184 was well within their grasp on a good batting wicket. Harpsden made an ideal start, with Imlay and Reissman looking very comfortable at the crease. When Reissman fell for 17, the pair had put on 53 in just 9 overs. Harris came and went for just 2, which brought Bryan to the crease to join Imlay, both batsmen played very well for their partnership of 47, with Bryan being bowled by Harpsden’s very own Hodgkiss, who had arrived to watch only to find that Hambleden were one short. Soon after, Imlay also fell for a quite brilliant 62, with 54 runs still needed for victory. Stevens and Hayden wasted no time in finishing the job off, with Hayden in particular punishing anything that that was over pitched to finish on 47 not out, which included six sixes, five of them from the bowling of Hodgkiss. Stevens played a good supporting role to finish on 16 not out, to give Harpsden a very easy victory with 10 overs to spare.