Match Report

Marlow squeeze home after Boddington's 5-8

A fine spell of bowling by Neil Boddington proved the decisive factor in a highly entertaining Julian Cup Final, which saw Marlow scrape home with a two-wicket victory over Wooburn Narkovians at Bray.



Boddington, who at one stage had taken 4-0, finally returned figures of 5-8 off three overs, and it was this performance that earned him the Man of the Match award. Indeed, the trophy had to go to a bowler after both sides had made a complete hash of the batting.



First in were Wooburn, who got off to a steady but rather slow start, before floundering to 33-3. With Dick Kimber (3-22) and Andy Field both bowling tightly, the Wooburn innings desperately needed a dramatic increase in the run rate.



This was temporarily provided by Paul Birdseye (28) and Stuart Savage (20) who pushed the score along to 62 in a third-wicket partnership of 34.



This provided only a brief respite for Wooburn before Boddington joined the attack. First to go was Savage, and then Haycock took a splendid catch on the boundary to dismiss Birdseye in his last over under Julian Cup batting rules.



The following ball saw the dismissal of Geoff Anthony and, although Boddington missed out on his hat-trick, he bowled Morris a few balls later to reduce Wooburn to 76-7. Boddington took a further wicket before Kimber came back into the attack to see Wooburn off for the low score of 85 off 22.3 overs.



Haycock started the Marlow innings with some well-struck shots, but was bowled by Phil Day (2-30) shortly after Roberts had been dismissed by the same bowler. Day continued to bowl well, but Cox (20), Field (15) and Land (16) all contributed to push the score along. At 62-3 there were few who fancied Wooburn\s chances.



However, this assumption was made without taking into account the quality of Wooburn\s fielders. After two run outs and the addition to the attack of spinner Alan Rogers (2-10), the game suddenly took on a different complexion.



Perham fell to an lbw decision for a duck, Hawkins was caught by Morris off Savage for 8, and Milsom stopped a certain six with a fine catch on the boundary that dismissed Boddington.



Marlow suddenly found themselves struggling at 77-8, but with one over remaining, Smith and Saunders finally hit the winning runs to deny Wooburn victory.



Ken Deeks, Maidenhead Advertiser