Runs & Run Outs see 2s to Smashing Victory at Northwood

Captain Orchard called incorrectly at the toss - as is his want - and Northwood elected to bowl on a green surface which appeared firm but surely had not lost all its moisture from the month-long deluge which preceded Saturday’s fixture.

After a steady start where Pavey and Chandler left well outside off stump, Chandler began to find touch. A crisp drive through extra cover heralded the true start of his season and five more fours and two sixes would follow in a belligerent innings of 56. However, it was Pavey who fell first on Saturday, caught at slip off what the umpires appeared to initially regard as a bump ball, only to then signal that the dismissal was good. Pavey trudged off none-the-wiser. Joyce was the next man to fall, departing for 6 with the score at 79-2, a base to build on but no more than that.

When Chandler was bowled with a single further run added to the score, Hertford looked to be in danger of wasting their solid opening. Chandler reacting to his dismissal by driving off to hunt down some food (rumours are he found succour in a Pizza Express in Woking). Dawson and Ray did their best in his absence, adding 47 for the fourth wicket, but the former struggled to find fluency and was dismissed chipping the ball back to the bowler. Carter was his replacement, and for a time looked immovable, albeit seemingly frustrated at hitting fielders with well-timed shots. Ray, meanwhile, remained patient, hitting just two fours and a six in his innings of 25 before he was dismissed by a good ball which held its line and clipped off stump.

By now captain Orchard was at the crease and, after surviving a dropped catch first ball, found some timing on the on side. Lyte and Orchard put 40 runs on in quick time for the seventh wicket, moving the score from a precarious 140-6 to a promising 180-7, when, Lyte’s fortune eluded him, and he was bowled. Orchard and Underdown now went on the attack with fast, pressurising running and occasionally heavy hitting. Gus Joyce fell victim to one such strike as he (and his socks) ended up in the boggy patch in front of the Northwood score board while trying to retrieve the ball. When Orchard struck two sixes in the penultimate over, he had reached a maiden Second-XI 50 off 43 balls and helped Hertford to 229-7 from their 50 overs.

In reply, Dan Orchard removed Northwood’s dangerous opening batsman in his first over to give Hertford an early foothold. Ben Orchard initially failed to match Dan’s control but eventually settled into a better line and length. Dan had a second wicket soon after, caught smartly behind by Lyte who had to dive forward and to his left. Underdown was introduced in place of the elder Orchard and found a strange way of repaying this confidence, delivering a full toss which was deposited high over the long on boundary and through the back window of his captain’s car, ensuring a loud journey home on the M25. Underdown struggled initially to contain Northwood’s Sharples, although scoring was slow by other batsmen and Northwood gradually fell behind the rate. Ryan picked up a wicket to a stumping as the Northwood number three charged and missed, but Sharples could not be dislodged.

After drinks, Ben Orchard changed ends to come down the hill and Sharples outside edged to point, where Dawson took a good low catch. What followed was as strange a passage of play as you are likely to see. Northwood required a run a ball, and the young Northwood tail appeared to take this literally. Kamikaze run outs were affected by Pavey, Underdown and Ben Orchard and the hosts slipped to 138-8. Northwood’s number 10, Eddon, struck some fine blows to keep Hertford’s nerves on edge, but when Dan Orchard removed Sargeant and Dawson had Eddon caught at point by Carter - staring straight into the unfamiliar sun - the chase was over.

Hertford emerged victorious by 45 runs to extend their lead at the top of the league. It wasn’t a perfect performance, but any victory which exorcises the demons of last year’s defeat at Northwood is a worthy one!

Written by Ben Orchard