Harpsden vs. Crossbatters

On a sunny summer day, Crossbatters visited Harpsden and their Captain Ian Whittaker won a crucial toss, putting Harpsden in to bat on a wicket still slow from the rain the day before. Some tight bowling by T. Atkins and C. Whittaker immediately put Harpsden under pressure with Whittaker starting with two maidens and a wicket maiden in his first three overs. Sweet and Pohl were out early but Hurst (28) and Bryan (32) began to re-build the innings. Useful scores were contributed by T. Nugent (17) and R. Birkett (16) but a captain’s innings of 37 by Stevens enabled Harpsden to post a reasonable total of 180 from their 40 overs.

The Crossbatters chase started with the early loss of I. Nugent but some big hitting by Tomlinson ably supported by Travers in a stand of 38 put Crossbatters well ahead of the asking rate. R. Atkins was very unfortunate to be run out whilst backing up by Wright. Useful contributions by both R and T Atkins helped keep things moving, but it was an excellent innings of 51 not out by C. Whittaker, surely the man of the match, assisted by his father Ian took Crossbatters home with two overs in hand. It was an excellent game much enjoyed by a good crowd.

Harpsden

N. Sweet ct I. Whittaker b. C. Whittaker 1
A. Hurst b. Hodgkiss 28
C. Pohl ct. Redfern b. T. Atkins 8
A. Bryan b. Travers 32
A. Cary st. I. Nugent b. Hodgkiss 2
A. Birkett Run Out 4
T. Nugent ct. b. Thornton 17
W. Stevens Not Out 37
R. Birkett ct. C. Whittaker b. I. Whittaker 16
J. Wright Run Out 7
E. Birkett Not Out 6

Extras. 10

Total for 9 wkts. 180

T. Atkins 8-1-22-1 C. Whittaker 6-3-19-1 Hodgkiss 5-0-18-2
Travers 8-0-42-1 Thornton 9-2-46-1 I. Whittaker 3-0-21-1
Woodward 1-0-11-0

Crossbatters


Tomlinson ct. Sweet b. T. Nugent 27
I. Nugent LBW b. E. Birkett 6
Travers ct. & b. b. Ham 31
Woodwood ct. Hurst b. Wright 6
R. Atkins Run Out 11
Thornton LBW b. Ham 0
T. Atkins ct. T. Nugent b. Stevens 15
C. Whittaker Not Out 51
Redfern ct. A. Birkett b. E. Birkett 9
I. Whittaker b. T. Nugent 10
M. Hodgkiss Not Out 5

Extras 11

Total for 9 wkts. 182


E. Birkett 8-2-44-2 T. Nugent 8-1-48-2 Wright 4-0-15-1
Ham 5-0-24-2 Cary 8-0-28-0 Stevens 4.5-1-20-1