BAR LOSE TENSE GAME TO DEVASTATING ENDING

A marvellous game of cricket, ended in a batting blitz by Northamptonshire's Graeme White which got the visitors over the line in a game where neither side deserved to lose as both innings were almost mirror images of each other.

Bar lost the toss for the second home game running and found themselves batting first and the innings started poorly as skipper Steve Gale (4) snicked to first slip where Steve Selwood easily clung on to. The visitors then put down Harrison Palmer on 5 and he and Pat Scott started to look a little more comfortable as they saw off the first power play.

However a poor call from Harrison Palmer saw the second Northamptonshire staff member, Adam Rossington pick the ball up at deep midwicket and run Pat Scott out by about 2 foot. 38 for 2 saw Bar bat nicely and Rishi Patel and Harrison Palmer put on a nice partnership and got Bar past the 100 mark and start to ask questions of last years regular season champions.

Harrison Palmer hit his first fifty of the season as he and Essex pro Rishi Patel put on 88. Rishi Patel went caught at slip though for 34 and when Harrison Palmer picked out deep square leg with impeccable precision from a rank long hop, Rossington took it easily.

James Scott played nicely, but lost Ashane Wijesuriya for 10 and when he was dismissed for 34 Bar's total was starting to lose impetus as Flynn McGaw, making his Premier League debut, since his arrival from Australia, started to make massive in roads to the home sides card. Luke Chapman was out stumped for 6 and when Bradley Sayers was leg before for just 2, Bar were 198 for 8 with time fast running out.

Enter Thilan Walallawita who struck a 32-ball 50, hitting a six that could well have ended in the deli aisle of Tescos and he and Jigar Mehta (19) put on a new PBCC Herts league record for the 9th wicket of 64* in just 32 balls. Bar set a big test of 261 to win but with a strong batting line-up, somehow containing two current professionals, it was still anyones game.

Bar got off to a great start as Jon Miles slapped to midwicket, Luke Chapman taking the catch, giving Thilan Walallawita a wicket in a fantastic 5 over spell of slow left arm bowling. The visitors captain, Ben Howgego looked in fine touch as he had no problem in finding the fence. Alas for the away team, every time they looked set, Bar got a breakthrough.

Shaun O'Brien was adjudged caught behind, trying to sweep, although if it hit his glove was a matter of debate and when skipper Howgego (45) top edged to mid on, Steve Gale held the catch and 81 for 3 saw the league champions behind the 8-ball. Adam Rossington was playing really well, made bating look a doddle but he went back to a ball and was bowled by Bradley Sayers for quickfire 40 and at 108 for 4 Bar were ahead of the game.

Enter Northants Graeme White who batted sensibly but lost Steve Selwood for 20, Simon Webster 19 and Ben Lederman 4, all caught in the deep as the visitor lost wickets and at 200 for 7 it was clearly all on his shoulders.

Having recently retired from red ball cricket in the autumn to concentrate on limited over cricket, he looked a class apart as he reached 50 in 63 balls without giving the mere smidgeon of a chance. However it was all on him if Totteridge Millhillians were to win. With two overs to go, the visitors wanted 25, but White played 4 of the best cricket shots seen at The Walk for some considerable time as he thundered 4 big sixes to win the game, end 100* from 88 balls and leave Bar desperately disappointed as their performance deserved better.

Next week Bar travel to Welwyn Garden City looking to get a result that their recent cricket deserved to keep in touch in a tight league where the standards appear to have improved massively over the winter.