Team work leads to First Win of the Season

Withersfield Home 4th May 2008

H&CHCC 170 for 7
M Atkinson 54 T Wood 20 Bryant 29 J Moriarty 33 not out.

Withersfield 41 all out
Mortimer 11
D Hodge 5 for 8 with 6 maidens
G Walton 3 for 32


H&CHCC recorded there first win of the season with a never say die attitude when things got a bit tough.

Captain Roberts lost the toss and on a green wet wicket took to the field and were quickly in trouble with the bowl swinging and holding up as well as a bowler who was quite fast and with early wickets falling of B Atkinson 2, Hodge 2, Roberts first ball sporting a new look vented trousers which sadly did not put the bowler off he faced ashe swung a devilish ball to remove the Captain leaving H&CHCC 10 for 3.

Vice Captain Bryant and Tom Wood steadied the ship after Ralling also fell for 7 leaving the home team on 27 for 4 looking a bit bleak with some hostile swing bowling. Bryant tried to dominate the bowlers and did so with another six and a partnership of 54 before Bryant was bowled and like most partnerships T Wood followed shortly after LBW for 20 and the score on 71 for 6.

M Atkinson and Moriarty then perhaps with some luck and good batting put on a match winning partnership 84 using up the plenty of overs left and very much discouraged Withersfield who clearly felt the game was won earlier Atkinson finally went for 54 in the 39th over and with Moriarty hitting the ball well and J Marlow getting 3 to support him ended the innings 33 not out and a final total of 170 for 7.

With something to defend and with the tails well and truly up Hodge bowled like a demon and Withersfield were probably beaten at tea as some of there shot selection was a little odd and with Hodge removing both openers and Walton getting three quick wickets Withersfield were 16 for 5 in the 10th over.

J Marlow fielding was immense and took two great catches one a full running forward dive to make a terrific catch.

Hodge carried on the good work and took 5 wickets with little reply and with the weather looking very ominous and rain in the air N Rutter came on to bowl already having taken a great catch in the deep bowled two balls to finish off the last Withersfield batsman leaving them all out for 41.

H&CHCC won by 129 runs and were good value for securing the first 20 points of the season but also the belief that when the chips are down that the team ethic can get you through to a win.

Everyone contributed to the victory and a special mention goes to P Richards and family who managed to get a pitch up and ready to play and although Withersfield may have complained about the wicket H&CHCC scored 170 on it in 40 overs and they were not able to get us out. I think sour grapes and no team spirit was there downfall.