2nd XI Edge Flitwick in Balls Park Thriller

After 2 competitive games and a last ball loss, Hertford were hoping for an opening win of the 2022 season. Flitwick won the toss and put Hertford into bat on a pitch that had a fair amount of grass and overcast conditions.

Harris and Harris opened the batting for Hertford and L Harris started promptly with a driven boundary through the covers. The opening bowlers mixed up their pace and there was a reasonable amount of movement troubling the batsman, however their line was often mixed and so Harris and Harris managed to get away a few early boundaries alongside a handful of extras. It came as some surprise when L Harris was then bowled by Mehmood for 8, I Harris and Read managed to string together a few runs and were looking good, until… after taking off for a quick single, Harris pulled a muscle in his leg so badly that he had to hobble off the pitch.

Pavey replaced the injured Harris at the crease but unfortunately couldn’t continue his good form for the season and both he and Read were dismissed for 4 apiece. This left Hertford 53-3 and with Harris not fit to bat and receiving attention on the side-line. Luckily, an old hand in Cordingley joined Reid, who by now was getting used to this situation in the 2ndXI, and together they moved the score on to 108.

Cordingley managed to get the ball into the gaps with good frequency and cut with particular success, at the other end Reid was strong in defence. Sadly, as has always been the case so far this season, no sooner had Hertford got themselves into a useful position, they then couldn’t capitalise on it. Hertford went from 103-3 to 121-7 in quick time Cordingley departed firstly for 29 and then Reid, Orchard and Lyte in quick succession. Ruskin was at the crease and looked busy whilst Murphy protected his wicket, sadly this didn’t last too long but luckily Ruskin found a partner in Ryan and they took the score to 149 before Ryan took a suicide single. The noble-Harris (Ian) went out to bat on one leg and provided a few decent boundaries alongside the joyful site of a runner and Ruskin still playing fluently. One shot too many was Harris’ eventual downfall as he finished with 40, Ruskin 17* and Hertford a very par 163 all out.

Hertford knew they still had a chance to win, but saw it would be very tough. Just like last week a good start was needed, Ruskin and Orchard provided a good threatening attack the latter unlucky to see a number of runs fly to the boundary off the edge. Eventually a breakthrough was granted when Orchard hit Umlauf on the pads. A small partnership then developed before Orchard was able to get a second LBW leaving Flitwick 32-2 and Hertford felt they had a chance. Adams came to the crease and was proactive at pushing the score on for Flitwick, and at one point they were manoeuvring themselves into a strong position until Ryan was rewarded for a tidy display when a rare untidy ball was slapped to Orchard at mid-on. Cordingley then found another wicket at the other end before Ryan another and Flitwick had slipped to 81-5.

From there, the next passage of play moved on very quickly despite there still being a huge amount of overs left to chase any total. The Flitwick middle-lower order consistently played shots which brought runs, either intentionally or unintentionally and Hertford took wickets at intervals. Ryan bowled from one end before Ruskin and Orchard were introduced again – following the skirmish of shots and wicket Flitwick were at one point 128-8 and considered out of the game, before being 157-8 and Hertford being out of the game.

Ryan had other ideas though and removed Qamar after one shot too many meaning 1 wicket remaining and 7 runs needed. Flitwick crept towards the total and when only 4 runs were needed Orchard rolled the dice and introduced Murphy – his first ball was banged in as the batsman top edged to the safe hands of Ruskin at mid-wicket and the win was Hertford’s!

The 2ndXI had at last won a close game and opened their account for the season – many thanks to Ruskin-senior who provided a more-than-competent fielding replacement for Harris, and well done to the bowling unit for providing the win!

Author: George Pavey