Threes Beaten At Princes Risborough

First change Harvey Graham took two wickets and Matt Bowyer bowled a miserly spell with figures of 2-20 off his 10 overs including the important wicket of the league’s leading run scorer Matt Greaves for 47. From being 80-0, Princes Risborough were now 102-4 but a solid partnership between Wes Strecker & Mark Shimmin kept the scoreboard ticking over.

The Third Team bowlers kept to their task but struggled to break this partnership. Shimmin was finally caught by Harry Grinham for 46 in the 44th over as the home side pushed hard in the last few overs. Strecker finishing unbeaten on 53 as Princes Risborough posted a total of 201-5 in their 45 overs. With the sticky wicket and slow outfield this was probably worth 230-240 but was certainly not unobtainable.

In reply the Third Team batsman got off to a slow start with tight bowling on the still tacky wicket. Wickets fell too regularly as the required run rate slowly increased. Only Harvey Graham (26) and Matt Bowyer (22) had made it into double figures when Jake Seagrave joined young Harry Grinham in the 22nd over with the score on 72-6. These two batted sensibly and pushed as hard as they could under the circumstances, but the required run rate was always slowly increasing.

With 30 required off the last two overs Seagrave went for the big one but was caught out for a well-made 32. Grinham, who went to his half century with a six over long-on, was out with one ball remaining for a quality 68 as the Third Team finished 178-9 which was unfortunately 23 runs short.