Harpsden held by Crazies

Crazies Hill managed to preserve their unbeaten start to their season, after thwarting Harpsden on Sunday. Having elected to field, Crazies were soon under pressure as Sweet and Bryan began aggressively, scoring at over 5 an over. R.Noyes and Rechner gradually brought things under control and when Noyes got one to lift, Bryan could only fend it to the diving J.Collis at short forward square. Hurst joined Sweet and together they seemed in little trouble, until Hurst was bowled by a ball which kept low from Noyes.

Harpsden looked in control as Sweet and Norton built on the platform provided, with Sweet passing fifty and looking set for a large score. Crazies’ hopes began to rise as Hanton removed Sweet and Birkett in consecutive overs, either side of Searle bowling Hodgkiss without scoring. However, Norton (77*) found able support, from Wright and Gireesh to lead Harpsden to 223-6.

Crazies’ reply started badly as A.Collis was removed first ball and Scholfield, having already given two chances, was well caught by Birkett to leave Crazies 17-2. Parris and D.Noyes began to rebuild the innings, adding 47 before Parris was run out by a direct hit. Stuart joined Noyes and they brought Crazies back into the match. However, when both fell in consecutive balls and J.Collis followed 4 balls later, Crazies had collapsed to 128-6.

With 9 overs remaining, Crazies dug in for a draw. With R.Noyes and Saunders looking comfortable this looked highly likely. However, the returning Cracknell took 3 wickets to leave Saunders needing to fend off the final over to ensure Crazies secured the draw, finishing on 159-9.

Harpsden
Sweet b Hanton 60
Bryan c J Collis b R Noyes 17
Hurst b R Noyes 21
Norton NOT OUT 77
Hodgkiss b Searle 0
Birkett b Hanton 0
Wright RUN OUT 14
Gireesh NOT OUT 17
Extras 17
TOTAL for 6 223

Rechner 11 – 0 – 56 - 0 R Noyes 9 - 2 - 32 - 2 Parris 6 - 1 - 27 - 0
Hanton 6 - 0 - 31 - 2 Searle 4 - 0 - 28 - 1 J Collis 3 - 0 - 35 - 0

Crazies Hill
D Noyes c Sweet b Ham 56
A Collis c Cracknell b Wright 0
Scholfield c Birkett b Ham 5
W Parris RUN OUT 15
Stuart c Birkett b Hodgkiss 31
Saunders NOT OUT 10
J Collis c & b Hodgkiss 0
R Noyes b Cracknell 17
S Hanton b Cracknell 0
Rechner c Birkett b Cracknell 0
A Searle NOT OUT 0
Extras 25
TOTAL for 9 159

Ham 10 - 1 - 26 – 2 Wright 4 – 1 - 10 - 1 Deville 4 - 0 - 20 - 0
Cracknell 6 - 3 - 18 - 3 Hodgkiss 11 - 3 - 41 – 2 Hurst 3 - 0 - 11 - 0
Bryan 1 - 0 - 17 - 0