Batting Collapse Costs Second Team

But it was not the bowlers who were at fault, but a batting collapse after a good third wicket partnership. Following the loss of two early wickets Matt Bowyer (pictured) and Adam Goldberg set about repairing the damage with a partnership of 94 in a little less than forty overs.

After a season out, Bowyer returned to his old form with an array of shots; anything short on the offside was cut with power though point and on the leg side dispatched through mid wicket. Goldberg scored mainly down to third man; some were edges but kept down and some deliberately steered in that direction. He also played a number of nice looking clips off his legs through mid wicket.

Bowyer top edged Joe Howorth to give him the first of five wickets but with the score on 117 for three in the 28th over a total of 250 still looked possible. This was not to be as no other player reached double figures and there were three ducks, two of them first ballers. There was some poor shot selection as the last six wickets fell for just 17 runs to reach a very disappointing 159 all out.

Paul Orton and Nick Grant produced another very good opening spell as only 35 were scored in the first 14 overs. Grant moved the ball both ways and was rewarded the wickets of both openers caught at the wicket by Dan Tidey before eight overs were completed to give a glimmer of hope. Chris Last and Tom Nichols then dug in and scored just 21 from ten overs with Nichols taking 21 balls to get off the mark. There was no more success for Tring Park and the scoring rate increased as they reached their target for victory with an unbroken third wicket stand of 143 in just over 36 overs.