Holyport Bowled over by Brown

On a very cold Sunday afternoon Harpsden travelled to Holyport to play a 40 over a side match. Having won the toss Harpsden elected to bat first and set about their task strongly with Jack Broome and Ian Reissman taking the attack to the opening bowlers. Reissman was first to fall and was soon followed by Norton who was run out in a very tight decision. With Andy Bryan joining Broome at the crease the run rate rose once more as the bowling was dispatched to all parts of the ground, Broome was to fall agonizingly short of his half century.

With the introduction of C.Morgan to the attack the Harpsden run rate fell as they looked to consolidate after their strong start, Bryan departed for a well made 39. Adam Birkett was unfortunate to get a ball that kept low just as he was starting to get on top of the Holyport bowlers. With 9 overs still to go Paice and Stevens looked to give Harpsden a strong finish to the innings and leave Holyport with a mountain to climb. Some powerful stroke play and good running the pair managed to get Harpsden past the 250 mark, with Stevens falling on the last ball of the innings.

In response the Holyport batsmen faced an uphill struggle on a pitch that was playing lower and lower. This fact coupled with so intelligent bowling and a desire to match the Harpsden run rate was their downfall, as the top order failed to get going. Credit should go to Ian Brown who returned his best figures for Harpsden 4-13 and took the game away from Holyport. The innings was wrapped up by Rod Birkett, who took the last two wickets.

Harpsden
J.Broome b P.Morgan 49
I.Reissman ct Pyle b Griffiths 17
A.Norton RUN OUT 7
A.Bryan ct C.Morgan b P.Morgan 39
W.Stevens ct Pyle b Kass 82
A.Birkett ct Pyle b Cox 22
J.Paice NOT OUT 19
Extras 19
Total 254

Holyport
C.Morgan b Brown 22
A.Pyle b Brown 0
A.Drewett b Hepburn 0
P.Davies b Brown 12
M.Taylor b Brown 0
A.Hawkins RUN OUT 5
C.Cox RUN OUT 2
H.Kass b R.Birkett 0
P.Morgan NOT OUT 3
M.Griffiths b R.Birkett 0
Extras 5
Total 49