Match Report

Match Report

Wooburn Narkovians 2nd XI defeated Hampton Hill 2nds by 64 runs to record their first league win of the season. Chasing a moderate target of 158, Hampton Hill had no answer to Wooburn slow bowling duo of Rob Rogers and Pete Harper, who shared six wickets, aided by some excellent work in the field. John White chipped in with two wickets at the end to polish off the tail.



Put in on a damp pitch, Wooburn found run scoring extremely difficult against some testing seam bowling. Boundaries were particularly hard to come by with the lush outfield, but the Wooburn openers stuck to their task well. John White was the first to go after a determined opening stand of 46. Angus Porter and Paul Cooper then combined to add 53 for the second wicket, the difficult batting conditions keeping the run rate down to just over 2 per over. Porter eventually fell just short of a well deserved fifty, as Wooburn looked to up the tempo.



With wickets in hand, the middle order tried to increase the run rate over the last ten overs. Cooper fell lbw for 35, and Savage, Dare and Milsom all chipped in with useful contributions to take the final total up to 158. A good effort in the circumstances, but at tea the match was in the balance.



Hampton Hill’s reply started well against the seam of White and guile of Rogers. Deakins looked in good form, hitting five boundaries in his 31. The introduction of Harper brought the first breakthrough for Wooburn, Bhatti being caught in several minds before he was bowled. Hill skipper Chelmick looked in pugnacious form, driving Rogers forcefully, but failing to pierce the offside ring.



With Hill marginally ahead at 45-1, Deakins fell to a quite brilliant catch by Savage at long on. He hit the ball hard and high to the onside, Savage running from long off taking the catch one handed at full stretch on the run. Wooburn now raised their game, while Hill seemed to lose the plot. A terrible mix-up then saw Kelly run out, before Cooper then ran out Coates with a direct hit from square cover, the ball just flicking the top of the stumps with the batsmen well short of his ground.



Rob Rogers then picked up three wickets as Hill collapsed from 45-1 to 68-8. Youngsters Robottom and Rose then frustrated the Wooburn bowlers showing good application. White was recalled to the attack and the new ball finally taken. A high full toss then ‘bowled’ Robottom, only to be signalled a no ball. It was a marginal decision, which seemed to disturb the batsman more than the bowler. Robottom proceeded to play some wild shots, eventually holing out to Milsom at deep mid wicket. Soon after, White had Rose plumb lbw to round things off for a relieved Wooburn.