BAR WIN A TIGHT GAME AT THAME

Potters Bar got their season off and running at the second attempt at Thame in a great game in amazing conditions on a beautiful ground.

After a contrived toss, Bar batted first and were soon 1 down as skipper Steve Gale chipped to cover and a 6-ball duck and Bar were 6 for 1. Worse was to follow as Pat Scott snicked behind for 8 and Ash Wijesuriya went to an even better catch by the keeper for 1 as Bar were 28 for 3.

This brought Miguel Machado to the wicket and he and Reece Hussain batted nicely and put the bad ball away and Bar's batting looked more like it should. A costly drop at deep square leg saw Miguel Machado gain a life on 15 and soon after he put his foot down and the pair were shaking hands on a 50 partnership in 58 balls.

The Bar 100 arrived two overs later but as Bar looked in good fettle, Reece Hussain went stumped for 33 and at 111 for 4 which kept the under strengthen hosts in the game. Miguel Machado completed a fine 50 in just 38 balls (7x4 1x6) as Bar looked like putting an imposing total together but his dismissal for 53 sparked a dramatic collapse. Bar lost 6 for 17 in 58 balls as they capitulated to 152 all out with leg spinner Hassam Mushtaq and slow left armer, Mike Beard running amok taking a combined 7 for 66 in 14.2 overs. Bar were shot out inside 34 overs.

Thame got off to a steady if unspectacular start as they poked, prodded and nurdled their way through the new ball but accumulated all the same. Bar looked flat and the openers had negotiated the opening hour and the 50 stand arrived in a sedate 104 balls and to most at the ground it looked like it was to be an unlikely home win.

However in the 20th over Bar got a breakthrough as Ash Wijesuriya stumped Thompson for 15 but 5 overs later was the match turning moment. Miguel Machado took off at midwicket and held an amazing catch and skipper Beard was gone for 26 and at 68 for 2 it was an even contest with the hosts still needing 85 off 25 overs.

Adams and Alsop batted nicely but the squeeze was on and their 29 partnership in 46 balls was ended as James Scott held a catch at mid-on as Brad Sayers got in the wicket column. However the game swing into Bar's favour as new signing Blaine Bannister removed the middle order as he snared three quick wickets and the hosts had slumped from 111 for 3 to 124 for 6, still needing 29 but now off just 49 balls.

In Luke Chapman and Thilan Walallawita Bar have as good a spinners in the league and they squeezed the life out of the hosts. Burrows went to a sharp caught and bowled to Luke Chapman who then ran out Jeffcock smartly to leave the hosts 143 for 8 needing 10 off 29 balls. Up stepped Thilan Walallawita who then took a smart return catch and two balls later he enticed Jackson to chip to midwicket and Bar were home and hosed by the slender margin of 7 runs.

Blaine Bannister 3/16, Thilan Walallawita 3/19 and the rest of the wickets shared around but the win was an important one. The performance was far from what's been seen over the last two years but to win a tight game is always good against any opposition. We thank Thame for their organisation and hospitality and wish them all the best for their season in the Home Counties League.

Bar next week play their final pre-season game against Bishop's Stortford (Midday) before the T20 against Radlett on May 1.