Hertford 1XI Swept Aside by Totteridge

Heavy winds and overcast conditions greeted Hertford’s 1st XI when they travelled to Totteridge on Saturday. Fresh off the back of last weekend’s victory over Harpenden, Scott Ruskin’s men were looking for back-to-back wins to boost their survival hopes.

Winning the toss, Ruskin chose to bat first hoping to capitalise on the small, fast-scoring ground and set a tough total for Totteridge to chase. Added to the challenge for both sides was recent ground levelling work on the hosts’ outfield that has reduced the scale of its notorious slope but left the outfield fast and bobbly.

The visitors were looking for a rapid start but lost opening batsman, Will Ray, in the first over after a popping delivery from namesake Joe Wray carried easily to the fielder at point. Facing an almost identical situation to last week, Richard Leather came to the wicket seeking to replicate the performance that led to his first century of the season.

Riddle and Leather settled the innings down with easy scoring on a wicket that played well, if sometimes two-paced, to push Hertford towards their half century. Just shy of the milestone, Leather pushed at one that stuck in the pitch to send a simple catch to mid-on for 28. After a promising start, Riddle soon followed thanks to a superb delivery from Simon Webster, reducing Hertford to 72-3.

With lunch in sight, Ian Harris and Ben Cowell found themselves in a positive position before returning opening bowler, Wray, put a dampener on the visitors’ morning by removing Harris with just two deliveries remaining before the break.

Coming out after the interval with his side 125-4, Cowell was joined by Adam Carlson and the pair batted maturely against a buoyed bowling attack. But just as Hertford crept past the 150 mark, two quick wickets stalled their progress and left work to be done in the remaining 20 overs.

Cowell and new batsman, James Leather, took up the challenge, laying solid foundations for a late-innings assault on the Totteridge bowlers. Cowell reached his second fifty of the season and began to apply pressure with some positive stroke play, exemplified by a classy flick off his pad for six.

The seventh wicket pair pushed the score to 240 with five overs of their sixty left to play. Just as they were ready to finish the innings with a flourish, the weather intervened. A light rain shower turned heavy, losing the visitors precious time and overs.

Once the frustrating shower had passed, Hertford found themselves with only three balls of the innings to complete. A classy blow for six from Leather was the highlight of the remaining deliveries, but Hertford left the field frustrated that the target stood at 248 and not nearer a deserved 300.

Hertford’s opening bowlers knew they had to bowl with discipline early in the Totteridge innings, with former Northamptonshire opener, Ben Howgego, ready to pounce on any width. Rhythm was hard to come by for both bowlers, however, and the hosts got off to a flyer bringing up their fifty in little over 7 overs.

A disastrous start got worse as Howgego and fellow opening batter, Miles, punished a ragged bowling attack. At 89-0 after just 12 overs, captain Scott Ruskin had to take pace off the ball and brought himself into the fold. Howgego sauntered past 50, but Ruskin soon came up with the goods and pinned the opener in his crease to get the scalp Hertford needed.

Ruskin’s wicket also proved to be the inspiration Knight was looking for at the other end. A tough opening spell soon was turned on its head as he was able to claim three quick and vital wickets to rein in the hosts. At 113-4 the game had changed and now it was Totteridge who needed to work to regain control of the innings.

Hertford’s bowlers continued to press against the Totteridge batsmen, but Simon Webster and Justin Le Fort were able to rebuild. With Knight beginning to struggle, Ruskin turned back to James Leather to try to and force another wicket. Leather, battling into a strong wind beat the bat of both players but was unable to find a breakthrough as Webster began to accelerate.

As the century partnership came, Hertford were searching for opportunities but finding few as Webster continued to find the gaps with ease with Le Fort also looking comfortable at the other end. Ruskin had to try and force a wicket, so turned to the unlikely Ian Harris in an attempt to change it in their favour.

Harris’ efforts were valiant but he also could not find the much-needed breakthrough. As Totteridge approached their target, the visitors were left hoping that the intermittent drizzle would bring similar disruption to earlier in the day. Their hopes were soon dashed as Webster crashed a large six into the car park to win the game for his side with seven overs left of their 51.

Hertford left north London knowing that next weekend’s fixture, and return to 50 over action, against Luton Town and Indians is crucial in their quest for survival.

Written By: Andrew Knight