The defeat in our last game to Goresbrook seemed to be on the minds of the 1's as a scratchy performance saw victory attained by five wickets in a low scoring game.
Winning the toss, Dave Hickey decided to put the opposition in to bat, a decision which looked vindicated as Jack Plom took his first wicket at the end of his second over. Tight bowling from Jack and Sam Bear saw the first four wickets fall for 20 runs in less than 13 overs. The run rate never escaped the bowlers as Charlie Haddon, Tom Arnold, Richard Abson-Bennett (making his annual pilgrimage home) and Lesiba Ngoepe kept the hosts to a little over three runs an over.
A brilliant run-out by wicketkeeper Will Howard just after the first drinks break saw the fifth wicket fall. This brought about a partnership of 39 before the return of Jack saw the last five wickets fall for 32 runs. Jack got his fourth, Sam got his second, Lesiba managed one and Tom took the last two in two balls as Horndon spluttered to 115 all out in 45.4 overs. No batting points scored against a side looking to be positive after last week's debacle.
Two wickets in the fifth over seemed to give them some impetus, but Jack Newton was in the mood to punish anything not on the stumps before a remarkable one handed running catch on the boundary saw him dismissed. Dave went in the next over, and with only 46 runs on the board, there was still enough batting to come, but it was time to play the patience game. Firstly, Nathan Woods and James Salisbury put on 28 for the fifth wicket; then Nathan and Tom saw the side home as a 44 run partnership saw us reach 118 in the 27th over. Nathan top scored with 40 from 37 balls and Tom scored 16 from a well built 39 balls. The team's overall performance was not of the standard of earlier games this season, but it was a win none the less.
We return to The Shen for our next game, against Woodford Green. Despite the win, we now have dropped to third in the table in what is beginning to look like a four horse race. A win of any sort next week needs to be obtained.
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