Slack fielding costs 2s

The Adders were in good spirits arriving at King George V Playing Fields and so were some of the locals who were meandering around this park pitch on a variety of substances. As we were to find out locals walking across the square and the outfield mid-over was just the norm in Stevenage.

Skipper won the toss and decided to field on what looked like a pitch that could offer help to bowlers. The Bear was selected after recovering from a leg injury and bolstered by a return of Danny Fitzpatrick the feeling was we could restrict the oppo and then chase down the total. Ultimately 2 things scuppered us. The pitch was a road and our fielding was worse than 'park'. The openers threw their hands at everything outside the off stump and sometimes connected causing the ball to fly over and through covers and on a couple of occasion through our slips. In fairness there were no chances missed in the slips but runs were conceded. Eventually Danny Fitzpatrick broke the partnership and Haider soon had the other opener in the hatch. Things were starting to look up as oppo kept going for it and we took another couple of wickets. Pete Tatakis took a catch!!, he also dropped one but after a telling off from John Thorp on WhatsApp earlier in the week we now focus on the positives - well done Pete another stunning game.

Towards the back end of the innings a couple of catches went down and some 1s were made into 2s, 2s into 3s way too easily by the oppo. All in all it meant that we ended up having to chase 253 to win.

Tom Flint and Pete Tatakis set about the task with purpose, getting us off to a good start. Tom departed on 25 soon followed by Mike Cox (0). Pete stuck around for a while but knowing he had to push the strike rate he played an aggressive shot and got out. Danny Fitzpatrick was looking in good nick when he was joined by John Thorp. Run rate was starting to creep up again when John (14) got out - unlucky to pick out the fielder with a cracking hit. The Bear came in and played brilliantly supporting Danny to get us in with a chance. When Danny was bowled for a great 65 (not bad for a player with 'only one shot' according to one of our oppo's fielders) the tables turned. Knowing we had to push for the win batsmen came and went quickly with Gary Flack hitting a quick and attractive 19. Going into last 2 over and with 1 wicket remaining all we had to play for was batting points. Martin Flack and Ivan Ninkovic getting us 10 runs in the last couple of overs to get 9 points.

25-30 runs we conceded in the field with dropped catches, misfields and general lack of urgency especially against opponents who were very good in the field proved to be the difference between the two sides. 17 points from this game is a solid return and leaves is in 3rd spot after 3 games and everything to fight for. Up the Adders!!!