4th XI Win by 15 Runs Against Letchworth

No wonder they did not seem too keen to play, especially given the surface water that was being squeezed out of our footsteps on the popping crease on the top ground, however after an hour of midday sun, at 1.30 we decided to start the game a 2pm.

The tinkle and role of coin landing on pitch was replaced with a splat associated with Shrove Tuesday and frying pans. The coin came down the wrong side for Hertford and we were invited to have a bat.

Not surprisingly, Hertford found it tough going and were 45 for 2 at “half-time” drinks after 20 overs. However importantly we kept wickets in hand and this proved vital. The turning point was Rich Eaton’s innings. He made a mockery of everything that went before and after his innings. Nobody, including Rich, is still quite sure how he managed to time absolutely everything. In addition to his usual hitting arc of mid-on to cow, Letchworth found themselves fetching perfectly good deliveries clipped off his legs over mid-wicket. Usually when the ball lands in the middle of the mid-summer overgrown copse on the full it is time to reach for the spare balls: not sure how we managed to keep the original match ball. He brought up his fifty in about 7-8 overs. Meanwhile at the other end (watching in wonder) Steve Page played a vital role of anchoring the innings, as with Rich his 30 plus in the context the game was worth so much more. The lower order wagged and used up our overs and Hertford innings closed on 150 with three balls left. Slightly above par given the conditions.

Letchworth’s reply was an equally turgid affair, Matt Ahl, Dave Benham and Charles Dower and the Letchworth openers locked in a stalemate that resulted in a score of 30 for 1 after 10 overs, with Dave taking out their left-hander. Ugen and Alex Bartlam came on first change which took us to 62 for 2 after 20 overs, with Ugen Gounder, as usual, breaking a blossoming partnership. Matt was unlucky not to get a wicket with a few chances going to grass off his bowling.

After Dave finished his usual Scrooge like spell (8 overs, 1 for 26) Nick then turned Rovindu “Ravi” Francis. He took an extra ball than when he last played to warm up, taking a classic leg-spin wicket (caught at slip) off his third delivery (and should have had a wicket 4th ball). After getting fed up of bowling unplayable deliveries, Ravi went to the locker and found a very well disguised googly. It left a well-set batsmen smiling and shaking his head (along with keeper and skip). It was a game changer as the Letchworth batsmen now had to play at everything, unfortunately a couple more chances got grassed and it took a bad ball to get his next wicket. Thoroughly deserved given the pressure and uncertainty he had created.

The game swung firmly in Hertford’s favour when Charles returned for his second spell, his extra pace was too much for the Letchworth lower order. He took 3 wickets in 4 balls with a desperately close LBW shout on his hat-trick ball. He finished with figures of 3 for 11 off 8 overs. Good “day at the office”.

Alex returned for his death spell with Letchworth needing 20 off 5 overs with 2 wickets in hand. Alex’s luck evened out and he cleaned bowled the last two batsmen in the 37th over and Hertford had won by 15 runs. Yet another tight finish for the 4s… we like to think we provided good value to the “masses” of spectators that came from the main ground to watch.

Author: Nick Horton