Hertford IIs Rebound Strongly with Home Victory over Flitwick

Another Saturday arrived following another wet Friday night and leaden skies and light drizzle persisted ahead of the scheduled 12 o’clock start, preventing the square from drying fully.

After much standing around and even more sawdust, it was agreed that the match would start at 1pm. The Flitwick captain called incorrectly, allowing captain Orchard to elect to bowl on a Hertford deck which, although not soft by wider standards, looked to offer more assistance to the bowlers than usual after a fortnight of treacherous weather.

Dan Orchard again provided an early breakthrough, having Flitwick opener Smith caught smartly at first slip by Pavey. With the visitors’ score on 20 after a tight start from Hertford’s openers, Ben Orchard also struck, bowling the other opener with a ball which moved just enough towards leg to defeat the batsman who had otherwise looked well set. After a brief but unsuccessful foray by Dawson, the two’s spin attack of Underdown and Ryan - playing in his first outing of the season - settled in for 18 overs of teasing toil on a pitch offering slow turn.

Three wickets fell to the twirlers, leaving Flitwick 66-5 and Underdown and Ryan on their way to impressive returns of 1-16 and 2-19 respectively from their full allocation of nine overs. Flitwick’s middle order regrouped, however, batsman Adams hitting the ball hard - particularly at Ben Orchard’s right hand which still bears the imprint of the seam. The resurgence would not last, however, as Dawson and the Orchards returned, the former taking two wickets in the final over to dismiss Flitwick for 161.

Hertford’s reply was led again by Pavey and Chandler, the sun now intermittently peeking through otherwise dense skies. The threat of more rain remained, and a scoring rate of over 3.81 per over would be required to ensure that Hertford would be ahead of the game if the deluge did come. Pavey batted to his usual rhythm, seeking to punish bad balls but running well when the chance presented itself. Chandler is yet to recapture his bombastic form of 2020, however, and demonstrated judgment even Prince Andrew would have been ashamed of when he left a ball that clattered into his middle and off stumps; his teammates later sort to soothe his pride by claiming the ball had in fact hit leg stump.

Joyce then joined Pavey at the middle and, while the ball seemed universally difficult to time of the tacky surface, the pair continued to drag Hertford toward the target at the required rate. Hertford’s predominance was confirmed when, after Joyce had been dismissed for a well-made 33, Dawson introduced himself to the bowling by smiting two fours in succession, meaning Hertford needed little more than 70 runs in around 25 overs. Dawson was eventually removed but his 38 in even time, and Pavey’s anchoring role, meant that Hertford required just 7 when Ray came to the crease. Pavey made heavy work of the final blows, swinging his bat with aggression and intent but a total lack of success. Instead, Ollie Ray timed the ball into the deep and Hertford crossed the line with seven wickets to spare.

Hertford now find themselves top of Division 2B, courtesy in no small part of having completed each of their league games but also due to their winning two of them. They need to build on this advantage which they have gained, starting this week away at Northwood.

Written by Ben Orchard