Hurley v Wargrave - Report

Asked to bat first on what appeared to be a good wicket, Wargrave's openers Phil Drew and Tom Tabrah began cautiously against the new ball. Tabrah was the first to fall as a seaming delivery just managed to clip the top of his off stump. This brought the in-form Scott Walker to the crease and he very much continued from where he had finished last Sunday, blocking anything straight and punishing anything loose. Drew (15)was the next to fall, bowled by James Taylor whilst attempting to hit him into orbit.

Alex Woods then came to crease and, free from playing in his younger brothers shadow, immediately began to take advantage of the short boundary towards the pavilion. The combination of the hard-hitting Woods and free-scoring Walker meant that the run rate inevitably increased as Wargrave piled on the runs against some admittedly wayward Hurley bowling. The pair put on (133) for the 3rd wicket before Woods fell chipping the fall to cover for 62 off just 28 deliveries. Charlie Moss was next in, joining Walker, and he played a couple of lovely shots through the off side before being dismissed by an outstanding catch by the extra-cover fielder. Walker then fell, only 8 runs short of his hundred, and walked off absolutely exhausted. The remainder of the innings continued in much the same vein with the ball disappearing to all parts of the Shepherds Lane outfield. Jack Clark was the star of the back end of the innings, scoring 69 from just 27 balls, ably assisted by Archie Withers (16). Wargrave closed on a seemingly unassailable 310-8 from their 40 overs.

During Hurleys innings, Wargrave truly did reap reward from the colts coaching which has taken place over the last few years. Before a ball was bowled by a Wargrave player over the age of 15 Hurley were 90-7 after some brilliant bowling from the Wargrave youngsters. Emma Walker(7.2-1-32-2), playing in her first senior game for Wargrave took her first senior wicket in her 2nd over after a good catch in the deep by cider connoisseur Chris Lunn. David Jordan(6-0-29-2), bowling from the river end also struck early with 2 wickets, and then backed up by the seam of Charlie Moss(6-0-1-16) and Archie Withers (8-0-30-2)), Wargrave tore through Hurley's middle order. Only James Taylor (36) and Mike Walton (33) offered any real resistance before first Huw Thomas(2-9) and then the returning Walker came in to polish off the tail.

A very encouraging afternoon's work from Wargrave, particularly the bowling of the under 15's in a game which, despite being one sided, was played in excellent spirit throughout.