Lawyers Leave Harpsden in Trouble

Reading Lawyers
Mc Gill * b Devile 2
Loosemore Not Out 92
D De Vet ct Reissman b Imlay 66
C De Vet Not Out 71

TOTAL 250-2

Harpsden
A Birkett b Ajmal 8
I Reissman b McGill 74
H Ellis ct Lake b Birkett 39
S Imlay b C De Vet 18
M Greenwood b C De Vet 19
W Smith lbw McGill 2
B Hancock ct Birkett b De Vet 25
W Stevens b De Vet 11
T Stevens Not Out 2
R Moyle lbw b De Vet 0
M Devile Not Out 0

TOTAL 211-9

Harpsden welcomed an unfamiliar looking Reading Lawyers side to Harpsden on a dull Saturday afternoon.
Reading Lawyers won the toss and opted to bat first, and made a shaky start to the innings as they struggled to deal with the swing bowling of Devile and Toby Stevens, Devile made the breakthrough with Devile bowling McGill for 2. From then on, luck didn’t seem on Harpsdens side, as numerous chances went down, and Loosemore decided to use the edge of his bat more than the face. Other than Toby Stevens, the Harpsden bowlers struggled to find the right areas of the pitch, the only success was De Vet being well caught by Reissman from Imlay’s bowling. Reading Lawyers posted a competitive score of 250-2.

Harpsden made a solid start to their innings, putting on 20 before Birkett was bowled by Ajmal. Reissman was then joined at the crease by Harpsden newcomer Henry Ellis, both batsman batted solidly, but as the required run rate climbed, Ellis took a risk and was caught for a very promising looking 39. Imlay then joined Reissman and played attackingly before getting bowled by De Vet for 18, Reissman was next to fall for a nicely played 74. Harpsden now required 10 an over, and despite some late order hitting from Hancock and Will Stevens, they fell well short of their target to give Harpsden their first taste of defeat of the season.

Broome and Howarth put Thunderers to the sword

Harpsden entertained the Thespian Thunderers on a glorious day. Harpsden opted to bat first, and made a great start to the innings, with Burgess and Broome finding boundaries easy to come by. Burgess fell in the 6th over with the score on 40. The Thunderers then picked up 2 more quick wickets, with Heanley bowling both Bryan and Hancock. This brought Hepburn to the crease to join Broome, who had already passed fifty. Broome and Hepburn built a solid partnership, with Hepburn playing the aggressive role, smashing boundaries with alarming regularity. Hepburn soon passed fifty, before being cleaned up by Jardine. Broome continued on his merry way, passing the hundred mark for the second time this season. After Broome’s dismissal, Hodgkiss and Greenwood set about taking the game well out of the Thunderers reach, Greenwood in particular showing great power to bring up his maiden Harpsden half century, Hodgkiss soon followed in passing fifty, before Howarth hit a quick fire 30 to take Harpsdens total to a mammoth 337-7.

The Thunderers lost a quick wicket, before Jardine and Stretfield smashed the ball all over the park, once Jardine fell to Howarth for 60, there was an almighty collapse, with only Stretfield showing any resistance as he made 98, Howarth was the main reason for the collapse, bowling brilliantly as he picked up his maiden 5 wicket haul as Thunderers were bowled out for 180.

Harpsden Vs Sonning 22/5/11

It was a somewhat sunny but blustery day upon Harpsden hill, when a Sonning side of promising youngsters and experienced heads visited Harpsden. The game got underway with Harpsden being put into bat. Sonning pace bowlers Ray and Bowers provided a stern test for the openers, with some probing deliveries. The swirling wind wreaked havoc, with the sight screen; being blown along the boundary like a ship in a storm. It was not long before Sonning had their break through; Ray with pearl of a delivery to remove the prize wicket of Captain Will Stevens.
However, the tide soon turned, with a strong wave of Harpsden batsmen punishing anything short or over-pitched. Norton, Bryan and Cary (H), all sailed past their half centuries, with the home side eventually reaching 316 for 9 from their 40 overs.
After a hearty tea, Sonning embarked on their response to the home side’s total. Yet their efforts were met with the accuracy of Pugh and Wright who bowled at a rate of knots. A courageous middle-order fight-back saw Fitton play some classy shots and swashbuckling S. Dave battled through to the end, despite a ball to the face earlier in the match.
Harpsden ended the day the victors, bowling the visitors out for 138.

Innings of Harpsden CC
Batsman How Out Bowler Score
A. Grimmer Bowled Dave 30
W. Stevens Ct Ray 3
A. Norton Bowled Dave 61
A. Bryan Ct Denyer 69
J. Paice Run Out 12
H. Cary Retired 71*
E. Pugh Ct Denyer 3
J. Wright Ct Denyer 11
R. Birkett Stumped Denyer 12
A. Cary Not Out 20*
M. Hayward Not Out 10*
Extras 14
Total . 316

Denyer (7-0-53-4), Dave (9-1-73-2), Ray (4-0-36-1).

Innings of Sonning CC
Batsman How Out Bowler Score
A. Denyer Ct Pugh 0
E. Gadd Ct Pugh 8
R. Ford Ct Pugh 0
A. Roy Bowled Wright 4
A. Fitton LBW Stevens 26
A. Roberts Ct Hayward 13
R. Bowers Bowled A. Cary 15
S. Dave Bowled A. Cary 45
N. Ray Ct H. Cary 4
A. Bennett Bowled Wright 13
T. Roberts Not Out 2
Extras 8
Total . 138

Pugh (7-0-19-3), Wright (9-3-17-2), A Cary (6-0-23-2)

Royal Wedding:Theme

London Erratics won the toss and decided to bat first. Harpsden got off to a disastrous start, as the Erratics were going well at 50-1. Balaji Pippaed the openers with short balls as he made the breakthrough with some quick short bowling. With no bowler commanding the batsmen Imlay controversially brought himself on to bowl. After a dismal 3 overs the captain reluctantly took himself off. Things were getting desperate and H.Cary was given a chance but couldn't make the breakthrough despite some deceptive slower balls. Then things began to turn Harpsdens way as Imlay set a clever fielding trap and the batsmen fell into it like bees to Honey. Moon balls from Cary were occasional but he soon got into his stride. Good bowling was eventually found by Hodgkiss and A.Cary with some tight spin bowling and Cary eventually had Parker Bowled. Stevens then came on to spin his wed and did so very well taking one wicket in the process. Williams could not be dismissed however and the Erratics amassed an impressive 194.

Harpsden had it all to do and started well with Grimmer and Burgess smacKing the ball all over the place. Grimmer was soon dismissed and H.Cary was deemed the best man to see the innings out. Both the players were regularly Middletoning the ball to the boundary. Burgess was getting into his bride as he continued to hit well throughout his innings. Burgess was eventually out for a good looking 84. Imlay then came in and had the first dance down the track of the day, playing the spinners well. Imlay and Cary finished off the game well as Harpsden chased the total down with ease in the end. A win at this stage of the season could prove princeless to success in the remaining games.