This week “Baloo the Jugster” remained at home against High Wycombe Cricket Club. Back into the team after work commitments, captain Shelvin Gumbs won a crucial toss and had no hesitation in fielding in the hot sunshine.

David Brent was first to strike, making an early breakthrough in his first over, the second of the innings, with Charlie Macdonell taking a catch at first slip to remove Will Hatton with the first ball he received. The early wicket was well supported with some tight bowling by Simon Stanway, conceding only 4 runs in as many overs.

As High Wycombe continued to consolidate, our bowlers showed great patience, maintaining a decent line and length throughout the innings, making it challenging for the visitors to progress their scoring. High Wycombe’s second wicket put on a partnership of 81 in 25 overs. Their third wicket partnership produced 37 in 13 overs with the main partnership of the innings compiling an unbeaten 99 from 23 overs. The pick of our bowlers was Andy Harris whose 1-32 for from 14 overs was vital. The visitors total of 221 was one that we knew will be challenging to track down.

Openers Liam Gough and AJ Woodland got off to a steady start before the later was caught on 11 with the score on 24. Macdonell joined Gough who was next to be dismissed leaving the inform Michael Payne to join Macdonell. This was now to be a key partnership, but Payne only contributed four before he was dismissed. Captain Gumbs joined Macdonell in the 12th over and the pair complemented each other brilliantly for 13 overs adding a much needed partnership of 79 before Macdonell was dismissed on the stroke of tea. With the clubhouse packed out with highly vocal England supporters, tea was taken and the players had a small window of opportunity to view Gareth Southgate’s young team progress into the semi-finals.

After tea, Sheridon Gumbs joined his older brother at the crease and the older was replaced by Brent after a partnership of 28, but not before Gumbs had scored 55 from 57. When Sheridon was out for 12, the pair of David Brent (53*) and wicket-keeper Jeremy O’Neill (18*) batted excellently to take us to the target of 222 and the double for the first time over High Wycombe in a season.

With 10 of the 18 matches completed, we are now third place in the league, with an away game against second placed Slough next Saturday.

SECONDS, THIRDS & FOURTHS

The Second Team had to settle for a draw at NPL Teddington as they agonizingly fell eight runs short of winning. A victory probably would have been theirs had it not been for the 59 runs amassed by NPL from the final six overs of their innings to set a daunting 254.

Charlie Greer again enjoyed a good opening spell, picking up two wickets. Paul Orton also bowled well early on as he conceded just 22 runs from his first 8 overs. The bowlers were well supported in the field, particularly by Adam Partner who took four catches at the wicket, the last a fine one handed effort high above his head.

After the early loss of Matt Grinham, who was run out without facing a ball, the Tring innings progressed well to 78 in the fifteenth over before Adam Partner was out for a 44 ball 52. The scoring rate slowed, but the innings was held together by Solly Woodall who scored his first half century for the 2s and showed how much his batting has improved since last season.

The hunt for victory was still on when Mo Choudhry and Charlie Greer shared a seventh wicket partnership of 53 in just over six overs, but when Greer was out the innings lost impetus and the game petered out to a draw.

Mark Bater’s Third Team bounced back from last week’s defeat against Barnes Wild Geese with a comfortable seven wicket win against Farnham Common on a scorching Saturday at London Road. Bater won the toss and had no hesitation in asking our visitors to bat first.

After losing the early wicket of Muzz Niese who was brilliantly caught at slip by Benn Kempster off the bowling of Toby Seagrave, Farnham Common pair of Sami Niese and Ahmad Chaudhary fought back with some attacking batting as our hosts fought back to 66-1. The outcome of the match changed when Bater brought back Aussie Angus Cumming to bowl his off-breaks after his opening salvo of pace. Cumming showed his versatility with the ball picking up five wickets as Farnham Common collapsed to 126 all out. Returning Second Team Captain Toby Wastling playing his first game since breaking a thumb in May also showed his call picking up two wickets.

With a short seven over spell before an extended tea break to watch the football, the inform Josh Camm blasted 34 off 20 balls before being dismissed just before tea. Resuming at 56-1 after England’s victory over Sweden, Benn Kempster took over from Camm as he smashed the ball to all parts before he was also dismissed for a quick fire 35. Robbie Grout and captain Bater took us to brink of victory before the later was dismissed. Cumming came in and joined Bater as we coasted to a seven wicket win inside 19 overs.

The Fourth Team picked up a vital win in their longest trip of the season to Kew on Saturday. Batting first, we posted 201 from our 40 overs with the inform Nick Wake once against passing 50 before he was brilliant run-out for 66. Some late hitting from Krishna Kumar and Matt Cave gave us a competitive total. Kew were restricted to 192-9 off their 40 overs with captain Andy Grout picking up four wickets.

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JUNIORS

On Sunday the club had two of their junior teams playing in Hertfordshire County Finals. As a club we hosted the Under 12s Hertfordshire Finals. Despite putting up a brave fight, our Under 12s were beaten by Bushey in the semi-final.

Our Under 10s clinched the Hertfordshire County Title on Sunday after defeating Harpenden in the Final at Sawbridgeworth.

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