Wooburn Narkovians 2nd XI continued their good start to the season with an impressive four wicket win over Hurst 2nd XI. A rare century by skipper Stuart Savage, well supported by Alan Cuthbert (62), and six wickets for Pete Harper, helped ensure a third successive league victory.
Possibly with football in mind, Hurst opted to bat after winning the toss on a hot sunny afternoon. Opener Cronin got the innings off to a flying start with four successive boundaries, but Rob Rogers had the last laugh, trapping him lbw with the last ball of the first over. This set the tone for a day of fast scoring on a flat, if low, pitch and fast outfield. Riaz impressed for Hurst with an excellent 73 and there were significant contributions from Murphy (29), Lack (36) and Fillingham (28), but Wooburn managed to stay in the match by taking wickets at regular intervals.
Pete Harper did most of the damage for Wooburn, taking six wickets, three of them stumped by Angus Porter. There was a promising spell from young Alister Paine until he had to leave the field injured, and solid efforts from Rogers and Graham Dare. When Chris Hempsall wrapped up the Hurst innings on 245, the Narks could feel reasonably happy with the efforts in the field, while Hurst possibly felt they were 20 runs short.
There was still a lot for Wooburn’s batsmen to do, and much depended on the top order. The innings started badly when Derek Milsom was a victim of the low bounce, but Porter looked in good touch, with trademark pulls to midwicket and a flicked low six to the short long leg boundary. It was a big blow when he was adjudged lbw to the left arm seam of Ruddock.
Alan Cuthbert and Stuart Savage now came together and, watchful in defence, they punished the loose balls to keep Wooburn well up with the rate. Hurst rang the changes, introducing two leg-spinners, but the batsmen continued to score freely until Cuthbert was forced to retire hurt with cramp at 181-2. The game was briefly back in the balance following two quick wickets, but Rogers with a six over cover and the dependable Graham Dare helped Savage reach the target, Sav reaching a well-deserved hundred near the end, finishing unbeaten on 103.
