Twos Twilight Win

Victory was largely due to an excellent performance by all five bowlers. Tom Weymes and Nick Grant opened up, conceding just forty runs from the first 20 overs and also taking three wickets. Weymes was the first to strike as he bowled Phil Lines in the sixth over. Grant struck with the first ball of the following over as Imran Nawaz, who had scored 125 not out in the game at Tring, was caught for four, thanks to a good diving catch by Andrew Dixon at first slip. Grant then bowled former Buckinghamshire batsman Graeme Paskins for one.

Paul Orton and Jack Rodnight replaced the opening bowlers and enjoyed more success. Orton had Segio Feede caught by James Hawkes standing up behind the stumps before Rodnight took three wickets to reduce Marlow to 96-7. He bowled his first two victims with balls that came back in to the batsman and took the third as Matt Foy played too early to send an easy catch to Partner at cover. Weymes and Grant where then brought back into the attack and took a further wicket a piece before Weymes ended the innings when he bowled Will Bovill to end his near two-hour long vigil.

In dismissing Marlow for 106, it appeared that the Second Team had done the difficult work, but made heavy weather in achieving their modest target. They were 19-3 in the eighth over. Dixon was still there and had scored 29 when he was out LBW to Nawaz leaving the score at a slightly precarious 46-4. Wastling then joined Ant McCormack but after less than a quarter of an hour together there was the lengthy rain delay shortly before six o’clock. Resuming at gone half past seven there was a certain urgency as the evening closed in.

McCormack was out for a gutsy 22, which had held the middle order together, when he was caught one handed by Adam Searle at cover. Wastling hit four boundaries and with some good running between the wickets he and Partner saw the Second Team home.

The victory moved the Second Team from fifth to third in the table and next week play Kew at home who are 19 points behind in sixth place.