Orton Bowls Second Team To Victory

He opened the attack from the Station End and bowled unchanged through the innings which lasted a ball short of 31 overs. He regularly beat the bat as he moved the ball away and was rewarded in his fourth over as he found the edge for Andy Dixon to take the catch at the wicket.

The swing also gave him an LBW and a catch by Richard Ambrose at first slip. On one occasion he dropped the ball short only for it to be hit straight to Ali Partner at mid wicket. Later he induced the drive for Sanjoy Bassi to cap a busy day at short extra cover with good catch with arms stretched high above his ahead. Three balls later he took his sixth wicket as Maidenhead & Bray were all out for a meager 121.

Nick Grant took the second wicket when he swung the ball back into left hander Ben Howard to dismiss him LBW. Tom Darling playing his first game Tring Park took his first wicket for the club to give Ambrose the first of his two slip catches. There were also two wickets for Jake Seagrave.

To avoid any alarms the Second Team needed to a good solid opening partnership and that is exactly what Dixon and Matt Bowyer gave them as they scored 108 for the first wicket in nearly sixteen overs. The score progressed steadily as Bowyer cut powerfully through point and cover.

Dixon didn’t score until his thirteenth ball but then his scoring rate picked up. He soon overtook Bowyer as he hit 12 fours with an array of shots and a six over mid wicket. He was out LBW for 62, leaving Bowyer to bring up victory with a straight four as he was left one short of a half century.

The Second Team move back to third in the table and next week travel to first placed Ickenham.