1st XI Draw Damp Squib with West Herts

West Herts won the toss and batted first on a sunny day at Balls Park.

Hertford’s opening bowlers, brothers Dan and Ben Orchard, applied early pressure as a chance was put down in the slips in the second over. However West Herts’ opening batsmen were able to deal with the pressure and put on a decent opening partnership. Alastair Lewis scoring 38 and Gregg Sumpter - 43.

Adam Carlson, who has been in excellent form with the ball lately, was able to dismiss West Herts’ top 3, giving momentum to the bowling side. Underdown was then able to apply pressure form the other end with a number of very economical overs, bowling very few loose deliveries.

In at 4 for West Herts was their Sri Lankan overseas, Priyamal Perrera, who scored with ease and appeared completely untroubled by Hertford’s bowling attack. Perrera had two partners in his innings of 106 not out - Arjun Patel who made 21 was bowled by Bailey Eustance and Lewis Koch who made a useful 50 not out off of 36 balls. With a strong finish to their innings, West Herts ended up on 292 - which seemed just about par with the flat wicket and rapid outfield.

Even though 292 appeared par, it would still take a remarkable run chase to overcome it, and so a quick(ish) start was required from openers Hugh Cavener and Fayaz Homyoon. West Herts made this difficult for the opening pair as the fielding side had 3 men out on the boundary in the first 10 overs, therefore making it hard for the batsmen to score boundary’s which felt essential in the run chase.

Cavener however tried his best, scoring a well made 80 off of 112 balls. West Herts’ most experienced player, Ian Gurney, took all 4 wickets as he put on a classy display of left off spin bowling. Hertford’s batsmen reached a stage in the innings where winning looked impossible, particularly given that the fielding side resorted to placing the majority of their fielders on the boundary at one stage, and decided not give the visitors any extra points by giving wickets away. Richard Leather did not adhere to this tactic as he was caught out at long off in the penultimate over of the innings. Will Ray made an important 45 off of 82 balls to bat out for the draw.

This was a game that never looked likely in resulting in a win or loss for either side who were both somewhat tentative in their approaches in extremely batting friendly conditions.

Adam Carlson again finished with Hertford’s best figures of 3 for 83 off of 20 overs. Next week Hertford face local rivals Hoddesdon at home in another big game.

Written by Jonny Underdown