3rd XI Maintain Winning Streak, Chasing Again!

Such a result once again made the troops very upset, it would surprise me if the skipper was sacked from flipping the coin for the last 2 home games.

As with a few home games this year the batting side got off to a flyer against the new ball. Although Dave Beardsley will tell you that with a different umpire he would have had a wicket first ball of the game, and he’s right, a stone dead lbw turned down!!!

Some aggressive stroke play mixed in with the odd play and miss from the batsmen was the tone for the opening exchanges. That was until Flynn ruskin enticed one of the openers to chase a wide one and was caught behind. At the end of the first 10 overs the score was 53-3, Brad Dawson removing the other opener with a leg stump full toss and then convincing the number 3 to shoulder arms to the straightest ball of the day!!

From then on scoring was steady and wickets fell at regular intervals with no substantial partnerships forming. At the 35 over mark the score was 136-6,the last of these wickets to fall was taken by Ross Murphy who’s showing that you don’t need a conventional action to be effective. Murphy bowling a delivery that would remove most batsmen, one that pitched on middle and leg and grazed the top of the bail on Off stump, I believe it was described as a wasted delivery by the man himself. With wickets in hand Bentley Heath were well placed to get a score of 175 plus, especially given the short boundary on one side. That all changed after a welcome sanitise break, with Connor Ives in combination with Thommo and Murphy slowing the rate to a snails pace and reducing Bentley Heath to 148-9, it didn’t take long for the final wicket to fall in the form of a run out from the skipper, 156 all out. Once again the bowlers fought back well after a tricky opening spell and giving the batsmen a score that was well within reach.

The chase got off to a poor start with Alex carter falling early, however Matt bartlam alongside Heshan steadied the going to add 44 before both fell in quick succession leaving Hertford at 52-3. Brad joined the returning Connor Ives, who was fresh from an 80* in the 4th team in his last outing. The pair adding 51 between them and moving the team serenely towards the target. But let’s remember this is the 3rd team and they like to make a run chase interesting don’t they. Little did the side know that the two sides in the club had been part of nail biting run chases and the crowd that was now building couldn’t really handle another close finish. With Dawson and skipper Codd falling close together Hertford were now 117-5, still very well placed with wickets in hand and plenty of overs as well. Rob carter and Connor Ives steered the chase close to the target before two wickets in two balls with the score on 152 started to worry the expectant crowd which by now was one of the biggest ever seen for a 3rd team home game. Not to worry though as Connor steered a wide delivery through wide third man for four thus handing the 3’s victory by 3 wickets. Another solid performances and yet again contributions throughout the side which is pleasing.

Key performers

Brad Dawson 3-41
Ross Murphy 2-10
Connor Ives 2-7

Connor 43*
Brad 31

Next up is a tough away game at frogmore which will really test where this side is at currently.