Second Team Hold Out

Eversley’s opening bowler Nick McGuane got the better of the Tring top order with an impressive bowling display, with the exception of James Hawkes who played a gritty innings of 44 not out from 145 balls in 16 minutes short of three hours. Similar grittiness and application from some of the other batsmen may have led to a different result in the Second Team’s favour.

And that more favourable result had looked very possible after Eversley had been restricted to just 184-7 from their 52 overs. The Second Team were very much in the box seat after seven overs with Eversley at 6-3. Nick Grant struck with his first ball as James Magowan gloved the ball to James Hawkes behind the stumps, stretching forward as the ball died on him.

Tom Weymes then had the middle stump cart-wheeling to dismiss captain Tom Howorth without scoring. He then found Jack Ford’s outside edge for a more regulation catch by Hawkes. The fourth wicket went down at 27 when Grant had Byron Hickman caught by Scott Rolfe at extra cover and a very low total looked likely.

But there was then a recovery led by Alex Davidson with 56 and supported by Alex Sykes with 49. Both were dismissed by Paul Orton who bowled well again to finish with 3 for 57.