Hanslope won the toss a chose to bat on a grassy wicket that was expected to deteriorate. Dan Frayne’s first delivery was rapid and caused mayhem. Stand-in keeper Ollie Drage didn't collect the ball cleanly and was hit ‘amidships’. What little concern there was from his team mates quickly evaporated when, after some writhing, he declared he probably needed to get his protector. Normal service was eventually restored but keeping remained difficult for the entire match.

Tows first strike was in Tom Sheppard’s opening over when Richie mistimed a pull and lobbed a simple catch to Michael Alcock. Rain then delayed the game for ten minutes. When play resumed Iscton was unlucky to be bowled by Sheppard with a ball that kept very low and Frayne bowled Ross Coles off an under edge.

Another stop for heavy rain lasted 35 minutes and the game was reduced to 34 overs a side. The pitch was now soft, tricky for batting and bowlers struggled with their footholds. Youngster Josh Shakespeare replaced Sheppard and in his second over had B. Coles trapped LBW. He bowled a good steady length and figures of 1 for 5 in 4 overs were an excellent effort in his first senior game.

Shakespeare was replaced by another U15, Chris Linton. In Linton’s third over both were in the action again, Shakespeare taking a fine tumbling catch at fine leg to dismiss Chilton. In the same over Linton had Johnson caught behind by Drage for 16. Linton too showed great promise and good control with the ball and finished with the excellent return of 2 for 9 off 4 overs.
Hanslope had slipped to 58/6 and now had only 12 overs to bat.

A substantial partnership was required and that’s what Brown (41 not out) and Marsh (17 not out) provided. Andy Roberts took some tap in his last couple of overs, particularly from Brown, but Frayne and Sheppard regained some control in the final two overs as Hanslope closed on 121/6.

Tows approached the target aggressively. David Roberts hit Giffin back over his head twice in his first over and continued driving at anything pitched up. Rob Jones began in nicely but in Giffin’s third over he left a ball that cut back viciously and hit his middle stump.
Tom Sheppard replaced Jones and started calmly, dispatching anything loose and handling the difficult conditions with good technique.

Roberts meanwhile continued to play expansively with a six over long leg and shots all around the wicket. The partnership reached 42 when Roberts misjudged a delivery from Giffin from around the wicket and was bowled for 31.

Andy Roberts replaced him and settled in with Sheppard who was now batting with some authority. Their partnership of 49 took Tows to the brink. However with only 16 required for victory Roberts punched to mid-wicket and was caught off Harradine for 17 and then Michael Alcock was caught and bowled by Green for 5.

Two runs later Sheppard was bowled by Harradine attempting a big hit for an excellent 49. However calm was restored by Chris Linton and Ollie Drage who knocked off the required runs and Tows won by 5 wickets.

Tows first home game of the season is next Saturday 14th May against Middleton Cheney ‘A’

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