Hat-trick Harris

Photo is of Andy Harris who put in a match winning performance on his debut for the club.

In our first match without the Jugster, it was obvious we were not the only ones missing our long supportive scorer. The High Wycombe score box was well decorated with a “Baloo the Bear” like figure of the Jugster watching the match. Both teams came together for a moment silence and a few words from our Director of Cricket Gordon Dutch.

High Wycombe won the toss and had no hesitation in putting us into bat. Buckinghamshire’s new captain Tom Hampton bowled an accurate and challenging line and length testing both our openers, AJ Woodland and Liam Gough. With the score on 18, Hampton took the wicket of Gough who was caught behind by Russell for 7.

Michael Payne promoted to number three, soon followed with the score on 26. Captain Shelvin Gumbs joined Woodland, who showed some form with a brisky 17 before skying into the heavens and was out caught by Webb off the bowling of Burden.

Things were not looking too good at this stage with our middle order exposed earlier than wished. The experienced Andy Dixon was next to join Woodland who was steadily working away at the other end. It was a shock when the pair were both dismissed in quick succession as we slumped 75-6. 16-year-old Solly Woodall playing in his debut HCPL match was joined by debutant David Brent as we looked to rebuild the innings. Woodall spent 13 deliveries at the crease looking very comfortable in his short stint and gained some valuable experience.

The loss of Woodall and that our third debutant, Andy Harris who together with Brent put on a rebuilding partnership of 36 before Harris fell for 21 with the score at 111-7. The ever-reliable Rory Criddle assisted Brent with our highest partnership of the innings of 52. Brent was eventually dismissed for 42, our top score of the innings as we eventually finished with 174 from our 50 overs.

Veteran Simon Stanway took the new ball with Brent and It took the latter only two deliveries to take his first wicket for club dismissing Eliot Callis for only 7. Stanway picked up his first wicket of the season when he dismissed the Ed Casterton with Andy Dixon taking a brilliant catch at short midwicket with our hosts falling to 33-2. Andy Harris was introduced for his first spell for the club and picked up a wicket with his first delivery dismissing High Wycombe’s captain Nathan Hawkes for 0. AJ Woodland was also brought into the attack and dismissed Dan Marles as our hosts slumped to 47-4.

With High Wycombe scoring at a potentially match winning pace, we needed a cluster of wickets. Step forward, Andy Harris who picked up a hat-trick dismissing Russell, Parsons and Haddow all LBW as we reduced High Wycombe to 67-7.

High Wycombe fought back with a partnership of 88 from Luke Webb and Adam Dobb as the pair took our hosts close to the target of 175. However we had other ideas, as Harris took a high catch on the boundary off Stanway to dismiss Dobb for a well played 58.

With our hosts only four runs from victory, Harris dismissed Hampton who was well caught by Criddle on the boundary before dismissing Burden the very next ball who was caught behind by Stephen Dutch to give us a brilliant opening day victory by three runs. The key to the victory was a fantastic all round team performance as we never gave up at any point in the match. Debutants Brent and Harris gave outstanding debut performances. Brent’s 45 was a match winning contribution with the bat while the 6-32 from Harris clinched the victory with vital wickets at key times.