Agony for Harpsden as British Airways cruise to 1 run victory

Harpsden met a British Airways XI for a 40 over match at Harpsden’s ground on Sunday. British Airways were put into bat and started well. It took a great return catch from Tom Hancock to dismiss Sid, who had batted smoothly for his 15. Suddenly the pressure was on, and two wickets in two balls for Williams really put the brakes on for a while. Salim came to the crease with 5 wickets having fallen and a big partnership was needed. He started well and accelerated quickly hitting the bowlers to all parts with several massive sixes. Other good contributions came from Ali Khan and Jason, with 30 and 26 respectively. The pick of the bowlers was definitely the ever-reliable Miles Hodgkiss, who bowled 8 overs for 15 runs.

After tea, the Harpsden opening pair came out positively knowing 210 could be chased down with one short boundary. It was Horatio Cary who started the brighter of the pair, with Matt Thomas in all sorts of trouble. Thomas soon spluttered into life though, after being dropped, and sped on to 48, including 8 fours, before being caught attempting a hook shot. BA then got a team hatrick when Ali Khan got two wickets and then Rajeev was run out on the hatrick ball. Tom Hancock and Alfred Cary came together with the score at 119 for 6 and a win looked unlikely. The partnership was cautious but rapidly accelerated with both of them hitting sixes before Hancock got run out amidst some extreme confusion. Williams came and went and with him potentially Harpsden’s chance of winning but a six from Balaji in the last over meant Harpsden needed 4 runs from 4 balls with 9 wickets down. 2 runs needed off 2 balls and the Harpsden boys dared to hope but a catastrophic run out left Harpsden 2 runs short of victory, all out on the penultimate ball. British Airways XI win, but by just 1 run.

British Airways XI

Sid c. & b. T. Hancock 15
Rahim b. Williams 10
Azam b. T. Hancock 29
Tarosh b. Williams 0
Jason RUN OUT 26
Ali Khan NOT OUT 30
Salim b. Hodgkiss 73
Mohat NOT OUT 5
Extras 22
Total (6 wickets) 210

Best Bowling: T.Hancock 2-24, Williams 2-27

Harpsden

H. Cary b. Ali Khan 29
Matt Thomas c. Jason b. Torash 48
A. Norton b. Ali Khan 12
J. Broome b. Ali Khan 0
Rajeev RUN OUT 0
M. Hodgkiss c. Azam b. Ali Khan 6
T. Hancock RUN OUT 46
A. Cary c. & b. Azam 26
H. Williams c. Sid b. Azam 3
Balaji RUN OUT 22
T. Ham NOT OUT 2
Extras 15
Total (all out)` 209

Best Bowling: Ali Khan 4-28, Azam 2-32