Hertford 4s Comfortably See Off London Colney 2s

packed lunch and drinks,
check.

sanitizer,
check.

fees to be paid at the bar,
check.

sanitize brake,
check.

no use of the pavilion,
check.

new cricket balls
check... wait, doh! They are Dukes - back to the pavilion before the 1st XI find out.

Welcome to the new and much welcome world of cricket last Saturday. Hertford lost the toss. Fortunately, the London Colony 2nd XI’s (LC) bowling union persuaded the captain to bowl first much to the delight of Hertford. However, we found ourselves at 48 for four

Horton was bowled fourth ball of the innings. Their left armer swung another one back into Yacoub and he was LBW. James Davis swept across a straight one and Jeff Hurrell was done for lack of pace chipping to square leg

Oran Riddle and Matt Day then rebuilt the innings. LC took the pace off the ball and their main challenge was concentration, both rose to that challenge and a partnership of 83 ensued. Oran was unlucky to middle one straight to mid-wicket who took a sharp catch above his head (having ducked out of a previous chance).

Matt was growing in confidence and his unconventional style was, was driving the LC captain to distraction. Conventional field positions were pointless. A collection of sixes and fours flows with regular freedom, one flat six over midwicket sticks in the memory.

Keeping him company was Hertford’s new signing from Hertingfordbury, Ross Murphy. He rode his luck early on testing out Mid-on catching ability a couple of times but then joined Matt in some powerful hitting. After another partnership of 70+, Matt was finally bowled for 77. After coming very close last season this was Matt’s first 50 for the team. An excellent innings under pressure.

Powerful lower-order hitting from George Gardener and Alex Bartlam finished Hertford’s innings on 254 off 40 overs.

LC’s reply was restricted by some excellent tight bowling from George Gardener, Alex Bartlam, Dave Benham, James Davis and Ross Murphy with support provided by sharp fielding. After 20 overs LC were 62 for 0 but the run -rate was now realistically too high so batting and bowling practice followed.

George Gardener’s and Ross’s stats of 8 overs 1 for 15 and 6 overs 2 for 7 grabbed the headlines but restricting LC to 131 for 7 off 40 overs was an excellent team effort.

Written by Nick Horton.