4th XI Cruise to Comfortable Win

Once sorted, Hertford again found themselves fielding in the July blazing sun, as stand in skipper Andre Rideout lost the toss and Hertford were asked to bowl first on a wicket offering enough variable bounce to keep the bowlers interested offset by a glass outfield.

Hertford did well to restrict the oppo to 184 especially considering they only lost four wickets in their allocated 40 overs. The bowlers: Pete Amos, Aalhad Kulkarni, Jack Buse, Ed Maharaj, Andre Rideout and Ugen Gounder worked very well as a unit and never let the oppo get away and were backed up by the fielders who spent a lot of time horizontal in the boundary dirt and did not drop a catch. Pete Amos (0-31) opened with his usual miserly spell and debutante Aalhad (0-27) and Jack (2-21) both enjoyed good opening spells followed up with superb death bowling in combination with Ed, while Ugen and Andre endured the “hard yakka” of the middle overs.

Consensus was 184 was a bit below par as Nick Horton and Dave Spring opened Hertford’s reply. Some all-sorts short stuff at one end was punished and all seemed set fair until Dave was the victim of a sharp caught and bowled chance. Jake Shepherd and Nick continued to keep out the good balls and punish the tennis ball bounce off anything slightly short of a length. Jake started timing the ball with elegant ease which was particularly easy on the eye, so it was a surprise was he edged behind to bring Andre to the crease.

At drinks the break the back of the chase was broken, as the required run rate had dropped below 4. Combined with a spread field (Nick had 5 leg side boundary fielders and an offside scout… zzz) the game drifted to its natural conclusion (as did the spectators in search of more appealing entertainment). George Rideout hit a breezy 30 to help speed up everyone’s retreat to the bar and Nick carried his bat for 78 not out.

Good all round team performance and a much deserved victory.

Written by Nick Horton