Hurst guides Harpsden to victory

Rivets
Buddika ct Hurst b Cary 5
Shamas ct Welford b Cary 38
Burnett ct Cary b Hancock 41
Fernando Run Out 1
Waqar ct Hodgkiss b Devile 24
Delaney ct Devile b Hancock 0
Kashif Run Out 34
Bilal b Burns 2
Najam ct Hodgkiss b Hancock 4
Steadman Not Out 4
Travers Not Out 0

TOTAL 158-9
Extras 5
Best Bowling: Hancock 3-31, Cary 2-14

Harpsden
A Grimmer b Travers 34
R Harris lbw b Travers 25
T Mitchell st Shamas b Steadman 0
A Hurst Not Out 58
L Burns c & b Bilal 2
A Cary b Bilal 0
B Hancock b Bilal 2
C Welford b Najam 17
M Devile Not Out 0

TOTAL 159
Extras 21
Best Bowling: Bilal 3-24, Travers 2-35

Harpsden continued there good early season form against Rivets, on a very cold, overcast day.

Harpsden made a positive start with the ball, with Devile, and debutant Luke Burns placing the ball in very good areas. However, it wasn’t until spin was introduced that Harpsden got reward for their tight bowling, Cary getting rid of Buddika after a sharp diving catch from Welford. Cary then also removed the dangerous Shamas, after a catch from Hodgkiss. Fernando was the next man to fall after a good piece of fielding from Burns, which allowed Moyle to claim the run out. Hancock was the next man to get amongst the wickets, removing Burnett and Delaney with consecutive balls to set up a hat trick ball for Kashif to face. He prodded his bat at the ball, and a loud appeal followed with Hancock and Moyle convinced that he had made contact, but the batsmen didn’t walk, and the finger wasn’t raised, from this point Kashif proved dangerous, hitting a quickfire 34, before being run out by a sharp piece of fielding from Cary. The Rivets innings then faltered, losing 3 wickets for 7 runs, with Devile and Burns both picking up there first wickets, and Hancock picking up his third. This limited Rivets to 158-9 from there 35 overs.

Harpsden made a brilliant start with the bat, with Grimmer and Harris timing the ball well all around the ground as they brought up their 50 run partnership after 9 overs. Rivets made the breakthrough after 11 overs, Travers removing Harris for 25. Harpsden then lost 2 quick wickets, with Mitchell getting stumped, and Grimmer getting bowled for 34. Bilal then tore through Harpsdens middle order, removing Burns, Cary and Hancock. Harpsden were now in deep trouble at 118-6. However, Welford came to the crease to join Hurst, who was already smashing the ball all around the ground. Welford decided to try and join in, and made a quick 17 before being bowled by youngster Najam, Harpsden now only needed 8 runs to win, and Hurst wasted no time in smashing two fours in a row to finish it off with 9 overs to spare.