1st XI Fall to Disappointing Loss in Cagey Affair with West Herts

In what seemed like perfect batting conditions, it was West Herts who won the toss and elected to bat first. This decision was immediately put into question as the new ball pairing of Knight and Orchard settled into a tight line and length with few scoring opportunities available. Eventually this paid and Andrew Knight dismissed opener Gregg Sumpter, thanks to a smart catch in the gully from Richard Leather for just 2 and the total at 6. Orchard too was rewarded when he enticed a loose stroke from Walker, who dragged the ball onto his own stumps, leaving West Herts 16-2.

A frantic period followed as number 3 Patel and his new partner, Sri Lankan international Perrera looked to force the scoring rate, on a wicket that was not proving easy to score on. Patel survived a dropped catch but eventually fell to a sharp stumping from Hertford captain Benji Cowell, as he lost his balance to a ball down which swung down the leg side from Carlson.

As the innings progressed it was clear that Perrera remained the key wicket for Hertford and Carlson’s unpredictably effectively paired with a miserly spell from young off-spinner Jonny Underdown. It was Carlson, with the aid of some striking bounce from a length that saw the end of Perrera, gloving the ball through to the grateful Cavener at first slip. Koch then gifted his wicket to Carlson, chipping the ball to mid-on in the first over after drinks. The frustration showed as a Tony Yeboah-esque volley almost saw his bat fly into an evasive Will Ray at cover. Zaidi followed for 0 in a similar manner to the earlier departing Perrera as the score was now 76-6.

There was some resistance from the new pair of Lewis and Seggery who put together a stand of 21 before Seggery returned a catch to Australian Eustance. The West Herts tail set their stall out to use up as many of their 50 overs as possible and managed to eke out a further 18 runs across the final 3 wickets, ending on a total of 115, with Eustance and Homyoon chipping in with a couple of wickets each. Whilst the score was not particularly imposing, Hertford knew they would not have it all their own way, having seem some discerning bounce from a good length in the first innings.

The reply started with a similar lack of fluency to the first inning, with Ray looking out of sorts facing up to Gage and Mane with the new ball. After benefitting from a dropped chance at first slip and feeling the pressure to score Ray followed an ambitious reverse sweep, with an attempt to force away a cut shot, only the edge the ball to Seggery behind the stumps. Cavener and Homyoon advanced the score the 18 before Cavener fell to another forced back foot shot, this time finding first slip’s grateful hands.

Cowell joined Homyoon and showed immediate intent, driving his first ball for 4. This intent however soon proved his downfall, attempting a similar drive he only succeeded in edging through to first slip for the 3rd wicket down and the score at only 30. Hertford needed some stability and Homyoon and Leather quietened down the pressure for a few overs before Homyoon broke the shackles with a 6 and a 4 off the bowling of Mane. Just as Hertford may have thought that they were overcoming the West Herts pressure, Leather was adjudged LBW to Perrera, attempting to turn ball off his hip to fine leg.

A partnership of substance was still required and Eustance and Homyoon again crept the score closer to the target. West Herts managed to retain control of the scoring and Hertford were punished again when Homyoon tried to force the pace against left armer Gurney, only to miscue the ball high to mid-on. With 5 wickets down and only just over half the required total on the board, Hertford still had a lot of work to do, and Eustance was left in charge of trying to marshal the lower order to victory. His task was made harder as the last remaining frontline batsman in Lawrence failed to learn the lesson of earlier dismissals and cut to first slip off Gurney.

Carlson joined Eustance and the left-right hand combination at the crease perhaps allowed Hertford some more scoring opportunities, and the score was advanced to 89 and Hertford had sniff of a hard-earned victory. However, with an off-spin dominated attack, left hand Carlson was always vulnerable and was eventually undone as Koch turned one past his outside edge and onto off stump. With just 3 wickets remaining Hertford required a further 26 runs for victory.

Unfortunately, Hertford’s tail didn’t appear to have learned the value shown by the West Herts tail who managed to advance a similar score up to 115. Underdown first picked out mid-on, sat on the edge of the 30-yard circle, to gift West Herts and 8th wicket. Eustance, now feeling the pressure of running out of partners tried to make a dash at the target and feel caught at cover off Gage for a resilient 25. This left the final pair of Orchard and Knight to try and complete the job that their more qualified teammates had collectively failed to do. At this point, hope seemed to disappear, and it was not long before Orchard was dismissed, giving West Herts an improbable 20 run victory and Hertford left to rue what should have been.

Author: Richard Leather