3rd XI Just Miss Out Chasing Away to Rickmansworth

The home team won the toss and opted to bat first, Beardsley and Ives bowled tightly in the early overs which led to a rash stroke and a breakthrough. It was slow going from then on with runs only coming in boundaries and singles. Brad Dawson particularly unlucky as a lot of those were edges off his bowling, 77-1 at drinks.

The break in play was good for Hertford and produced a couple of wickets. With the spinners on the squeeze came and it was only aggressive shot making that yielded any results. In the closing overs there was a couple of loose overs and some sub par fielding which led to Rickmansworth finishing all out for 186. Standouts Brad Dawson 3-43 with good support from Dave Beardsley once again.

Hertford’s reply started well with Matt Bartlam and rob wood playing some eye catching drives against the new ball. Progress was steady until rob was trapped in front, Ives given a promotion this week was soon walking back given out LBW, he was sure there was an inside edge. From then on Hertford found scoring quite difficult on a wicket which was only string slower and lower. Brad showed the second string to his bow with a patient 46, at 121-5 with 13 to go the game was in the balance.

Skipper Codd and Brad took the game deep into the 46th over but boundaries were at a premium, with 25 needed both fell in a short space of time and with big shots required the innings soon closed out at 168. A close game but just not quite there for the 3’s, clearly the home side knew the conditions and pitch very well and know a score on the board is the way to go.

A good contest and positives to take for the rest of the season, next up a home game against Bentley Heath.