1st XI Lose Out to Potters Bar Through Duckworth Lewis in Dismal Conditions

Despite rain forecast throughout the afternoon, both teams were keen to press on with the game given the shortened season had limited playing opportunities.

After last week’s impressive bowling performance against Radlett, Hertford captain Ben Cowell won the toss and elected to field again, knowing full well that the conditions would make run scoring difficult.

Opening the batting for Potters Bar were Pat Scott and ex Hertford captain, Steve Gale. After several early boundaries, Gale looked in good form but his batting partner was soon dismissed by Andrew Knight who got one to nip back through the gate and take leg stump.

Joining Gale at no.3 was Reece Hussain who had recently transferred from Bishops Stortford to Potters Bar - last year’s premier league champions. He and Gale made steady progress but the slow wicket, coupled with the soaked outfield, made run scoring hard. As the score had passed 50, and with Gale in his 40s, the introduction of first change bowler Adam Carlson was about to turn the game in the home sides’ favour.

In his first over, Carlson tempted Gale (42) into a drive which was comfortably pouched at first slip by Alan Jones. Soon after, Carlson then had Hussain caught in identical fashion by the same fielder in the slips. With two Hertfordshire batsmen dismissed, Carlson felt confident; his excellent rhythm pressured the batsmen with relentless line and length and the keeper up to the stumps. There was an air of inevitability about it when he dismissed Ashane Wijesuriya and Charlie Scott in consecutive balls before almost completing a hat-trick when a close LBW was turned down against Middlesex pro, Thilan Walallawita. Unfortunately it was not to be.

He wasn’t made to wait long for a 2nd first eleven 5-for, though. After Walallawita had taken him for a couple of boundaries, Carlson cleverly dragged his length back, causing the Middlesex player to slice the ball to Tom Orchard at extra-cover who took a good low catch diving forwards. Carlson completed his excellent spell with figures of 5-26 from his 9 overs.

While Carlson had been going about his work, another Potters Bar pro, Rishi Patel, had been content to accumulate against the off-spin of Tom Orchard. A bowling change would be his undoing, though, as James Leather was able to find the outside edge, leaving Potters Bar on 124-7. Hertford knew anything over 150 would be difficult to chase in the dismal weather, which had now started to drizzle, so they looked to wrap up the innings swiftly.

A 30 minute rain break did not do them any favours as Potters Bar regrouped and Hertford’s momentum was interrupted. As the players returned to the field, Bar’s Luke Chapman and Bradley Sayers batted very sensibly, both posting scores in the 30s which ultimately took the away side up and beyond 200. While in normal circumstances this would be very doable, Hertford knew in these conditions it was probably above par.

In reply, Hertford’s new look opening pair of Will Ray and Martyn Chandler were soon separated as a buoyant Potters Bar, led by Jigar Mehta, dismissed Chandler with just 3 runs on the scoreboard.

In mizzling rain and under thick, dark cloud, Ray and Alan Jones began building the reply but they had the metronomic left arm spin of Walallawita to contend with. The score had slowly but surely reached 31-1 when Jones played on to his stumps before new-man Alex Agedah at no.4 was then run-out.

When Ben Cowell hit a catch to mid-wicket and Ray’s resistance was ended, Hertford had slipped to 39-5 and the game seemed all but up as they had slipped so far behind the Duckworth Lewis required score.

Hertford’s classy all-rounders, Sam Davis and James Leather, had other ideas, though, and played quite brilliantly in increasingly dire conditions. Davis and Leather scored freely as the rain fell more persistently, punishing anything loose while rotating the strike well against a skilful Potters Bar attack.

Both had reached their 30s in quick time before rain ultimately ended Hertford’s ambitious pursuit of the Duckworth Lewis required score. Their chase ended on 112-5, 22 short of what was needed. In the end it was a valiant but unsuccessful effort by Hertford’s middle-order.

Hertford felt frustrated given that in the past fortnight they’ve had opportunities to beat two of the league’s leading sides, Potters Bar and Radlett, and ultimately come away empty handed on both occasions. They can however take positives from the fact they have at times looked the better side in both of these games and wins will surely only be just around the corner.

This weekend Hertford travel to North Mymms, looking to pick up their 2nd win of the pandemic-affected season.

Written by Will Ray.