Hertford 4s Overcome Old Eastcotians on Main Pitch

With the 2nd team game which was scheduled on the main home ground cancelled due to COVID related issues with the opposition the 4th team had the rare (debatably first ever?) privilege of playing a league fixture on the main pitch. The crowd were not disappointed as a tight match played out with Old Eastcotians.

On a very hot afternoon the home captain, all rounder Richard Eaton won the toss and much to the relief of his team decided to bat first.

Graeme Riddle and Matt Bartlam opened up and having been dropped twice Matt soon departed against some excellent new ball bowling. Griddle and Adam Marnoch settled in and put on 40 for the next wicket before Adam was bowled by a slower ball. Hugh Walsh looked good and made a fluent 23 before hitting a full toss back to the bowler and when Oren Riddle also hit one back to the bowler as well as his dad Graeme being adjudged lbw for a solid 45 the team found themselves in a bit of trouble at around 120-5 and around 15 overs left.

Richard Eaton and debutant Jake Shepherd came together and batted sensibly at first before Eaton started to see the ball better and started hitting some trademark boundaries. Jake was bowled shortly afterwards which brought Alex Bartlam in who played a supporting role as Eaton upped the ante as the overs counted down. Eaton finished on an excellent 75* off 56 balls. The innings closed with an important 19 off the last over including a glorious straight 6 from Alex onto the roof of Lawrie Wright’s car! Hertford finished on 213-6 which felt somewhere around par.

Old Eastcotians are known for going after the ball early and their intent was made clear as the first ball of their innings was swiped to cow corner for 4! Openers McIntyre and Gardner bowled well without any luck as catches were dropped in the outfield and Hertford team being very disappointed to not be given a caught behind decision or two…

The introduction of Dave Benham and Alex Bartlam was a key moment as both bowled their overs straight through taking 5 wickets between them at a fairly economical rate. Old Eastcotians whilst always being slightly behind in the game were always in it though and with Jake Shepherd carrying an injury skipper Eaton knew he would have to cobble together some extra overs from somewhere!! Hugh Walsh stepped up and despite a few wayward balls bowled 4 good overs picking up a wicket and then Adam Marnoch, despite also carrying an injury agreed to bowl a few. This was critical as Adam took 2-9 off his 3 overs.

The game slowly came to a head as with three overs left OE’s needed 30 to win with 9 wickets down but one set batter at the crease. Stu McIntyre came on to bowl the 43rd over and it is one that will live long in the memory. After four balls, poor Stu had been dispatched for three 6’s and a 4 and with only 8 needed for victory there were concerns it might all finish in that over! It did but it was Stu who got his revenge- bowling the last man off the 5th ball of the over via an inside edge with virtually every fielder on the boundary!

A tight win for the 4th’s who enjoyed their game on the main pitch, particular mention to Oran Riddle and Alex Bartlam who both took 3 catches each. Next week the team, who are 40 points clear, travel to one of their close rivals, Boxmoor.

Author: Richard Eaton