With the steady Simon Stanway out due to a minor injury, the customary economical returns was quickly missing as Datchet got off to a good start in the Power Play overs.

We fielded two HCPCL debutants in David Burnell and Chloe Hill, Chloe is the second female to play HCPCL and the first female wicket keeper.

Progressing on their great start, Datchet put on 98 for the first wicket and was looking at posting in excess of 300, however, some tight bowling from Michael Payne and captain Shelvin Gumbs plus three wickets for Steve Clark restricted Datchet to 269-9.

Making a change to the batting line up, The First Team opened with AJ Woodland and captain Gumbs. Woodland went early immediately creating a setback, he was quickly followed by Clark and five runs later by Charlie Macdonell as we slipped to 38-3.

Gumbs and Payne added 35 before Gumbs held out on 38. The only other resistance came from young Sheridon Gumbs who was undefeated on 11 as we continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, finally being bowled on for 101 in the 28th over.

TEENAGE QUINTET HELP SECOND TEAM TO VICTORY

When Chesham had scored 50-5 in the 16th over there was the prospect of an early finish. But even though Chesham rallied to end their 50 overs on 188 for 9, our Second Team still ran out easy winners as they reached the required target with more than 12 overs to spare.

It was very encouraging for the future of Tring Park to see the teenage quintet of Solly Woodall, Jack Rodnight (pictured), Scott Rolfe, Lawrence Snookes and Miles Doe all having a significant part in the victory.

Wicket-keeper Doe was the first into action as early as the fourth ball of the match when he quickly whipped off his glove, raced to collect the ball at square leg and run out Brendan O’Donovan with a direct hit before he had faced a ball. Snookes was next into action as he took the second wicket caught by Woodall. Snookes also took an excellent catch has he sprinted in from the third man boundary to take the fifth wicket from Rodnight’s first ball. He later returned to pick a deserved second wicket.

Rolfe joined the attack in the twenty seventh over, bowled two consecutive maidens and was rewarded with a wicket from the first ball of his third over as Chris Royals edged to Richard Ambrose at first slip after scoring a welcome half century for Chesham. Rolfe continued to bowl well as he conceded just seven runs from his first spell of six overs.

The more senior bowlers played their part too with Nick Grant picking up three wickets and Jake Seagrave, one.

In pursuit of 189 to win, Andrew Dixon and Matt Grinham put on 66 in just over 12 overs for the first wicket. Both played a number of attacking shots including Dixon’s hook for six. Once they had both departed for 35 and 48 respectively victory was largely down to Woodall and Rodnight.

Woodall seems to playing more confidently this season and hitting the ball harder. He shared a third wicket partnership of 65 with Rodnight in a little more than twelve overs.

Those who have seen Rodnight bat before, particularly those who witnessed his 125 at Chiswick and Whitton last season, will know what a destructive batsman he can be. Here he played the ramp shot for four and hit three sixes, the last one landing high on the pavilion roof. He hit is fifth four to bring up his half century and victory.

Four games into the season, the Second Team find themselves in third place in Division 2A after three wins all away from home.

THIRD TEAM REGISTER FIRST WIN

Mark Bater’s Third Team registered their first win of the season with a thrilling four wicket win over League leaders Wraysbury at London Road last Saturday.

Our visitors won the toss and decided to bat in perfect conditions for making a big first innings score. The Wraysbury openers Pav Midha and Kam Hanif took the attack to our opening bowlers Ed Pike and Toby Seagrave. Despite bowling well, the runs flowed on an excellent batting wicket and electric outfield. The opening pair put on 126 in quick time before they were dismissed in successive overs. First spinner Sanjoy Bassi dismissed Hanif for 49 and the part time seamer Ali Partner dismissed Midha for 65.

After a shaky start, Bassi and Partner found their lines and lengths and for the first time this season, allowed the Third Team to have some control in the field. Both picked up three wickets as they removed the Wraysbury middle order and reduced their run-rate. Wraysbury’s number five Deep Singh smashed 52 towards the end of the innings as our visitors finished on 267-8 off their 45 overs which felt below par after their electric start.

The Third Team made a solid start in their reply but slipped from 36-0 to 43-3 as the top three of captain Bater, Robbie Grout and Benn Kempster. Ali Partner and Chris Curry started to rebuild the innings with some intelligent running and excellent strokeplay. The pair were very good at findings gaps in the field and turning ones into twos as the built a partnership which hopefully would result in a first victory of the summer.

As the overs passed, the strokeplay of the pair became more extravagant and pleasing on the eye. The partnership of 167 between the two was a season high for the Third Team with Curry and Partner both hitting 78. Unfortunately we slipped from 210-3 to 227-5 as they were both dismissed with 41 needed for victory.

Allrounders Sanjoy Bassi and Ed Pike batted with maturity beyond their years as they played some excellent strokes as they guided the Third Team to a four wicket win with eight balls remaining.

FOURTH TEAM BEATEN AT DATCHET

A long trip to Windsor to play Datchet was in store for the Fourth Team last weekend. Late drop outs meant the Fourth Team played with only 10 men. Captain Andy Grout won the toss and on a hot day, decided to bat first.

This backfired to a degree as accurate bowling and a pitch where the ball stuck in the wicket ensured we never really got going and ended up 107 all out. Dick Highton top scored with 20 and half the team were out to similar shots , caught playing the shot too early.

Datchet chased it down fairly easily losing just the one wicket to Krishna Kumar, well caught by Ben Bezani. We actually bowled ok but fair play to Datchet and the setting in the shadow of Windsor Castle was very pleasant!

SUNDAY TEAM BEATEN BY BESSBOROUGH XI

The Sunday team opened their season by playing against a Bessborough XI with the visitors captained by James Wheeler. After being put into bat, Josh Camm and Lawrence Snookes started positively and aggressively against a largely spin bowling Bessborough attack. The first wicket fell when Camm and Snookes ended up at the same end and the latter was run out for a well made 22.

First Team opening bowler Tom Weymes joined Camm and another good partnership developed before Camm was caught and bowled by Middlesex Over 60s spinner Nitin Modha for a well made 45. Tom Weymes and Ash Haw both scored very 30s as they led the Sunday team towards a very big total. A late flurry of wickets by the Bessborough XI spinners, gave the visitors the chance of bowling out the Sunday team for less than 200. Solly Woodall and junior Alexander Davis rallied and their late partnership led the Sunday team to 239-9 from their 40 overs.

The Bessborough XI recovered from the loss of the early wicket of Rajan Modha who was bowled by Jack Rodnight with a 100+ partnership by Adil Parker and Hemmen Jutla. The pair played aggressively all around the ground and they scored quickly in their pursuit of 239. Overseas player Nick Grant picked the up the crucial wicket of Parker as the Bessborough XI collapsed losing four wickets quickly as the match swung back into the Sunday team’s favour.

However, Jutla stayed at the crease and scored an excellent 100 as he led the Bessborough XI towards victory. With Jutla on 106, he was dismissed by left arm seamer Lawrence Snookes and the match swayed back to the Sunday team. The second Tring player in the Bessborough XI team Ian Ridley scored 28 not out to lead the visitors to victory. It was a wonderful game played in great spirit with lots of fun had by both teams.