4th XI Lose Tight Game to Welwyn Garden City
There was something in the air. The 4s were warming up with catching practice and parallel to that festival of activity Steve Page could be found jogging and stretching.
So here we were knowing that victory would ensure safety and loss would mean the lottery of points gained on the last game of the season.
As with previous games Hertford’s opening bowlers and first change bowlers, Matt Ahl, Stuart McIntrye and Angus Kildare and Dave Benham respectively provided control over the game on a very dry and hard wicket. The margin for error on a true and “tennis ball” bounce wicket was very small so to restrict WGC to 4 runs an over and take 4 wickets was a good effort. As with previous games the oppo was left with one set batsmen on a flat track and the last 10 overs the hit was on so we walked off reasonable to happy to restrict WGC to 224, 5 runs an over was a par score.
Hertford’s reply was punctuated with the loss on Dave Spring, as he got a good one first ball. Steve Page and Nick Horton then rebuilt the innings during wind and rain that contrasted WGC innings weather, however Steve’s calf muscle gave way and he retired. When Nick lost his wicket for 44 Hertford were 102 for 2 at 27 overs. Eric Riddle and Andre lost their wickets in quick succession and Steve then returned with Nick as a runner. He managed the highest score of the day with 47, as great effort given his injury but with his departure the tail were left with a little too much to do. It all ended up with 5 overs left at 8 an over but this was too big an ask for the tail with nearly every man now back on the boundary and Hertford’s innings finished 13 runs short.
The result leaves Hertford 7 pts ahead of WGC with 1 game left. Consistent with the rest of the 4s season, everything going to the wire.
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