The First Team hosted Finchampstead last weekend. The weather was back to its best and having won the toss, returning captain Shelvin Gumbs took the bold step to take the field in the heat. Finchampstead got off to a decent start as they put on 39 for the first wicket, before veteran Simon Stanway ran out Oli Soames for 15.

Despite the heat, the First Team kept up the tenacity and pressure on the opposition, taking wickets at regular intervals. The introduction of AJ Woodland into the attack was the prise bowling change as he took 6-24 from his spell of 10 overs. This was well backed up by Steve Clark with two wickets and one each for Andy Harris and Michael Payne, with the bowlers well supported in the field with eight catches being taken. Finchampstead was eventually bowled out for 122 in 35.1 overs.

Resuming after an early lunch, the First Team suffered the early loss of David Burnell who was caught behind off the bowling of Craig Hodges for eight. A partnership of 73 between Woodland and Payne put the First Team within touching distance of victory before Woodland was dismissed for 43. Payne and Charlie Macdonell completed the light task as the First Team reached its target in only 16.3 overs to win by eight wickets.

This win means the First Team is clear of the relegation zone and with two matches left in the season there is no need for scrapping of points as we close out the season. Next weekend is the team’s final away game at Buckingham Town.

DISAPPOINTING DEFEAT FOR TWOS

The Second Team suffered a disappointing four wicket defeat at Maidenhead and Bray. Perhaps this was due to three reasons. First, an early loss of wickets for the third week running. 19-3 two weeks earlier, 41-3 last week and this week 26-3. Second, the bowling was like the curate’s egg; good in parts. And third they could have been more alert in the field.

The early loss of wickets inevitably led to the middle order trying to restore the innings rather than forging ahead to post a winning total. The restoration was led by James Hawkes who scored 67. He shared a fourth wicket partnership of 71 with Richard Ambrose and a fifth of 83 with Toby Wastling. Needing seven from the last two balls for maximum batting points Wastling clearly wanted to run two from the penultimate ball to give him the chance of hitting the final ball for six, but he was sent back by Ed Pike. Wastling was obviously frustrated by this, but Pike then played the ramp shot for four, something that Wastling would not have attempted if he’d batted all day.

So, defending 198 was not going to be easy. Tom Weymes, still recovering from an injury, did not bowl at his usual pace but kept a good line and length and was rewarded with the wickets of both openers. Paul Orton dismissed Max Thomas thanks to a very sharp stumping by Hawkes.

The lid was kept on the scoring as just 19 runs were scored between the twenty first and thirty first overs. But then 59 were added from the next ten overs as Keiran Grey and George Parsons put on 106 for the fourth wicket. There was a glimmer of hope as Ambrose’s quick work in the field saw Parsons run out and Jack Rodnight had Grey caught by Wastling at mid off. But with only 19 required, it was too little, too late.

Despite the loss, the Second Team remain in third place, but it’s all very tight with ninth placed Marlow only 25 points behind.

SUPER ANT FIRES THREES TO VICTORY

A hot day in Tring added more heat to a must win game for the Third Team against second in the table Beaconsfield. Led by opening batsmen Ant McCormack who scored 67, the Third Team triumphed in the last over.

Beaconsfield won the toss and elected to bat. Opening bowlers Jake Seagrave and Tom Darling had an excellent opening spell with 30 runs off 16 overs picking up three wickets. Jake Seagrave’s bowling is worth a special mention after seven overs he had picked up two wickets for seven runs and with five maidens, which demonstrates the level of control this gave captain Mark Bater.

Beaconsfield lost regular wickets and only reached 100 runs in the 30th over, which meant Sanjoy Bassi and Toby Seagrave had continued the bowling control. With 10 overs remaining, Beaconsfield finally accelerated and with a good partnership between Sam Musk and Andy Peace ended the innings on 199.

The Third Team opened with Ant McCormack and Josh Camm and both went about the bowling attack busily, although a little behind the required run rate. Camm, playing against his former club departed for 26 and was replaced by Benn Kempster who joined the party with his usual range of flamboyant shots, however this time, he was dismissed for a quick 26.

Meanwhile at the other end McCormack was finally dusting off his shots and moving his feet and picking up his own scoring rate.. The run rate crept up slowly to six an over as Nick Wale had a questionable LBW decision and Harvey Graham then holed out at deep Mid-Off.

With McCormack starting to struggle in the heat Mark Bater joined him in over 34 requiring 68 runs from the final 10 overs. Both batsman found the gaps and moved the rate forward to eight an over before McCormack was caught and bowled by Musk for 67.

Then Bater and Bassi and then veteran allrounder Ian Ridley shovelled and swiped the ball around the pitch enough to leave five runs from the final two overs. The Beaconsfield captain Andy Peace bowled a wide to seal the win for Third Team in the last over.

HILLINGDON HUMBLE FOURS

On one of the hottest days of the year Andy Grout won a rare toss and elected to bat. Captain Grout once again led a young team onto the field and despite the early wicket of chairman Nick Wake, made reasonable progress.

This was mainly due to Jim Turner who’s powerful strokeplay held the innings together. At 91-3 off 24 overs the Fourth Team were not in a bad position, but wickets began to tumble and despite Turner milking the strike and clearing the fence, we were bowled out for 128 with Turner dismissed for 60.

The Hillingdon chase was comfortable, it was hot and that took it’s toll but the Fourth Team didn’t bowl well. Hillingdon chased the total down without losing a wicket with Christopher Daley and Daniel Davies both scoring 60s.

ONE WIN & ONE DEFEAT IN MEMORIAL FIXTURES

On Sunday, a club Over 40s team took on their equivalents for the second edition of the ‘Twiggy Cup’.

With temperatures soaring into the 30s after lunch, Tring batted first and crept up to 170-9. Losing Daniel Payne-Cook to a catch at the wicket off of the first ball of the innings, half centuries from both Matt Bowyer and Richard Ambrose gave the Tring total an element of respectability.

In the field, Tring were never really in the game against Long Marston's batsmen who are all playing regularly. Andy Grout and Bowyer bowled with great control though. The undoubted highlight of the day was Twiggy's 8 year old Grandson, Daniel Kempster who, having not yet played a junior game - fielded for the whole of the second innings with incredible energy and enthusiasm whilst Long Marston won the game by six wickets to retain the trophy.

Benn, Annie and Kirstie are all incredibly grateful to Long Marston for being such wonderful hosts and to everyone that either played or came to watch in memory of Twiggy, who, result notwithstanding, would have had a great day himself.

On Monday the club sent a Twenty20 team to Hemel Hempstead to compete for the Doodson Trophy which was in memory of the late Roger Doodson. Tring Park, captained by Rory Criddle fielded first and Hemel Hempstead scored 177-6 off their 20 overs with captain Criddle and Harry Grinham the pick of bowlers. Our club team chased the total down in 17 overs with Andy Dixon and Jack Bailey leading the way with half centuries.

LOTTIE LASHES MAIDENHEAD & BRAY

Our ladies team beat Maidenhead & Bray comfortably in the sunshine on Bank Holiday Monday. We won the toss and elected to bat first with Natalie Gurnett and Lottie Woodall opening the batting.

Nat played steadily to a hard fought 16 off some rather tricky slow bowling. Lottie pushed things along when once she got her eye in finishing with a brilliant 96 before she was run out. Libby was unlucky as she tried to increase our total but we eventually finished on 171.

It was fantastic to have six bowlers for this game and they were all economical. Keely and Milly McIntosh got wickets, but with accurate bowling and the team fielded tight the run chase just too difficult for the opposition as they finished their innings on 96.