More Madness than Vaughan Flew Oval The Kookaburra’s Nest!

On The Shining Easter Sunday afternoon Harpsden entertained Wargrave in a 40 overs match. The home side won the toss and elected to bat first, however it was Wargrave that had, by far, the better start to the game. Rimmer bowl with good pace and bounce and soon had the Harpsden openers Andy Grimmer and Will Stevens hopping around the Crease.

Harpsden limped to 19 runs before the first wicket fell, Grimmer being trapped LBW by Rimmer. Worse was to follow for the home side with the swift departure of Broome without adding to the total.

Miles Hodgkiss joined W.Stevens at the crease and the pair set about repairing some of the early damage. Despite Miles playing his own private game of Catch me if you Can with deep square leg, the Harpsden pair managed to last until the 33 over before a mix up resulted in Hodgkiss being run out (also know as Will ran Miles out). Harpsden struggled to push the accelerator and wickets began to fall as they attempted to increase the pace. Only Rod Birkett’s late hitting helped Harpsden limp to 159 a the end of their allotted overs, which looked well below par.

Wargrave certainly made this look to be the case with a strong start from Colbourne, but a swinging delivery from Ed Birkett made him the Wicket Man and gave Harpsden the early breakthrough they were seeking. Tight opening spells from Birkett and Wright were matched by Toby Stevens and Tom Mitchell. Mitchell bowl very well and even tried his Flipper to get the break through. But despite T.Stevens picking up a wicket Wargrave were very much in command at 97 for 2 as drinks were taken.

After the break Colbourne completed an impressive early season half century and it was Goodbye to Mr Slips as the field dispersed in an attempt to keep him off strike. But this ploy didn’t last long as he was dismissed soon after a Face Off with Will Stevens. At the other end Toby Stevens seemed to be getting Clark, Plum and Plummer but the umpire was unmoved. But when Clark did depart Harpsden sensed a chance and the returning E.Birkett and J.Wright continued to keep things tight.

This pressure finally resulted in a run out with was well effected by Gimmer in the covers. In fact Harpsden’s fielding seemed to transform to a Field of Dreams as the innings went on, with numerous diving stops cutting of boundaries and saving singles. With the game entering the final 5 overs Wargrave were still favourites to win requiring just 30 runs to win the game, and the impressive A.Woods at the crease.

The Stevens brothers bowled 3 tight overs to leave Wargrave requiring 18 from the final 2 overs. Younger brother Toby then bowled the match winning over conceding just 4 runs. Older brother Will managed to get Woods off strike early in the over and managed to keep him there until the end of the match. Harpsden ran out winners by 6 runs and can now look forward to a Twenty20 8 Days Later.

Harpsden
A.Grimmer lbw Rimmer 2
W.Stevens b J.Clark 65
J.Broome Run Out 0
M.Hodgkiss Run Out 45
S.Burgess b S.Jeffrey 6
A.Birkett b J.Clark 0
R.Birkett Not Out 11
J.Wright Not Out 4
Extras 26
Total 159

Wargrave
J.Colbourne b W.Stevens 59
S.Jeffry b E.Birkett 10
T.Tabrah lbw T.Stevens 7
K.Clark lbw T.Mitchell 11
M.Hattey lbw W.Stevens 0
A.Woods Not Out 24
J.Clark Run Out 6
E.Woods ct E.Birkett b W.Stevens 4
S.Morton b W.Stevens 2
J.Rimmer Not Out 1
Extras 27
Total 151