Third Team Fall Just Short Of Victory

With the ball swinging from the off, the Third Team lost two early wickets as Robbie Grout and Tom Calder were dismissed with only nine runs on the board. Opener Josh Camm was joined by Will Darraugh who had returned from university as they looked to survive the early onslaught. Camm, struggled for rhythm and timing but battled very hard in challenging conditions and saw off the new ball and scored a more than useful 26.

Darraugh in his first innings since returning from Exeter University looked like he had never been away as he defended with assurance and punished the bad ball as he gave our innings some momentum. He struck the ball all round the ground as he brought up his half century as he looked to put the Third Team in a strong position.

In partnership with Chris Curry, the boundaries began to flow between the pair as a competitive total of 200 looked in reach. Darraugh brought up a deserved century, which was his seventh for the club. He was dismissed shortly after as was Chris Curry who’s energetic 31 was ended by a brilliant diving catch at mid-off. Some late order hitting from wicket-keeper James Wheeler (32*) saw the Third Team end with a total of 214-7 off 48 overs.

Tom Powell-Williams gave the Third Team the perfect start when he trapped Princes Risborough wicket-keeper Matt Greaves for nought in his first over. A few overs later, Powell-Williams was forced off the field with a back injury. He was joined shortly afterwards by Robbie Grout who was unwell, while experienced seamer Ian Ridley broke down with a calf injury and was unable to bowl.

Toby Seagrave was brought into the attack to replaced the injured Powell-Williams and he immediately found his rhythm dismissing Farhad Khan for LBW with a beautiful outswinger. With Princes Risborough settling for a draw early on in their innings, it was up to Curry and his bowling attack to force the win. Seagrave was bowling beautifully, beating the outside edge with his stock ball outswinger while nipping the ball back as his variation. He picked up a further two wickets as he kept the Third Team in the hunt for the win.

Off spinner Sanjoy Bassi was brought on by Curry and he gave the Third Team a sniff of a chance with a three wicket spell, with the Princes Risborough lower order particularly struggling to cope with Bassi’s quicker ball. With one wicket needed for victory, the final pair held out for six overs denying the Third Team victory.