Wargrave put to the Sword

Sunday saw Harpsden entertain Wargrave in a 40 over match. The Harpsden skipper won the toss and elected to take the field. This proved to be a good decision as due to the morning rain the pitch offered great assistance to the opening bowlers. Toby Stevens bowled with control and no lack of bounce and gave away only 9 runs in his opening spell. This pressure helped George Hepburn rip through the Wargrave top order and reduce them to 14 for 4. The introduction of Hodgkiss to the attack provided no let up for the Wargrave batsmen, as Harpsden continued to apply pressure. Hepburn was cruelly withdrawn from the attack by his captain having taken four wickets.

Ian Brown playing his first match for Harpsden bowled very tightly and took two further wickets. At this stage Wargrave were deep in trouble at 37-7 but to their credit dug deep and managed to gradually accumulate runs. Clarke and Woods were the pick of the Wargrave Batsmen, Clarke being particularly brutal on anything on leg stump.

In the end Hepburn was given his chance to complete his five wicket haul and he duly obliged when Adam Birkett held on to a good catch in the deep. Wargrave finished their innings having made 127.

Ian Nugent and A.Birkett set Harpsden on their way with an opening stand of 67. Nugent in particular looked in good form and it was a surprise when his innings came to an end. Thompson came and went for Harpsden and was soon followed by Birkett having made 26. Despite this wobble Harpsden were still in control of the game and with Stevens join Hepburn at the crease they sped on towards their target. Hepburn completed a fine individual display with 36 quick fire runs and was certainly Man of the Match. Stevens and Imlay finished the task soon after as Harpsden ran out winners by 6 wickets.

Wargrave

Lunnon ct Hodgkiss b Hepburn 3

Drew b Hepburn 1

Jeory ct Hodgkiss b Hepburn 3

Tabrah ct R.Birkett b Hepburn 0

Stuart ct I.Nugent b Brown 1

K.Clark NOT OUT 44

C.Lunn b Brown 0

A.Woods ct I.Nugent b Hodgkiss 6

M.Woods ct Welford b Thomson 36

J.Clark ct A.Birkett b Hepburn 7

Morton NOT OUT 7

Extras 19

Total 127

Best Bowling- Hepburn 5-14

Harpsden

I.Nugent lbw Clark 33

A.Birkett ct b Clark 26

J.Thomson ct Woods b Clark 4

G.Hepburn b Clark 37

W.Stevens NOT OUT 15

S.Imlay NOT OUT 2

Extras 9

Total 129

Best Bowling- Clark 4-27