TAPPIN AND DAY DENIED AT END
Another fine bowling display from young Nick Tappin, combined with the experience of Phil Day, narrowly failed to bring Wooburn Narkovians 2nd XI victory over Chenies & Latimer. The young seamer picked up another six wickets, leaving Chenies hanging on for the draw.
Chenies put Wooburn in on a dry track, and they started badly when Rob Smith fell for 4. This brought together Phil Day (37) and Paul Cuthbert (58), who both played comfortably, putting on 110 for the second wicket. Cuthbert\s timing was exquisite, while Day combined solid defence with powerful attacking strokes. The introduction of the spinners Northway and Davies helped stem the flow of runs, and Northway broke through, having Day caught at long on.
Day\s dismissal sparked a mini-collapse, with four more wickets falling with very little addition to the total. The arrival of Richard Barker, playing steadily and sensibly as ever, stabilised the innings. He went on to make a useful 45, taking Wooburn\s total up to 181-9 at the end of their 52 overs.
Chenies started their innings sensibly against the accurate bowling of seamers Day and Tappin. Tappin took the first wicket with probably his worst ball of the day, a long hop that Northway obligingly clubbed to mid on. The second wicket fell to Day, magnificently caught at second slip by Barker. Eltringham was lbw first ball. Crook and Fennell went to Tappin, bringing Davies to the crease with five down and less than 50 on the board. Meanwhile, Redpath, who had watched five of his team-mates fall, continued to frustrate the fielding side.
The arrival of Davies steadied the Chenies innings, and after playing himself in, he began to attack the slower bowling of Rob Rogers and Paul Cuthbert. Slowly but surely, Chenies began to work their way back into the match. Tappin was brought back into the attack with 40 required from seven overs. He immediately had Davies caught at slip by John Saunders. Franklyn was soon out, and Chenies decided to play for the draw. Redpath gave one final chance at the end, but the opportunity went begging. Tappin managed to take his sixth wicket of the game, clean bowling Wenman with the last ball, giving him figures of 6-48. Day finished with 2-32 in a match Wooburn should have won.
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