A good start, but improvements to be made

After winning a toss he didn't particularly want to win, the third team skipper chose to bat on a wicket that turned out to be sticky with variable bounce. As has been customary, the Village don't make it easy for themselves, and after 16 overs found themselves 29-3. A good start to a partnership between Mike Mitchinson and Pete Jaffe relieved some of the pressure with well run singles, but with the partnership at 29, Pete failed to get hold of a big shot and looped the ball to the infield.

This brought out the skipper, and at 58-4 the main priority was to not lose any more wickets. Watchful batting from Lawrence coupled with a more free flowing style from Mike consolidated the situation and at drinks the Village were 82-4. However the drinks break (as always) brings a wicket and Mike departed for a well made 35, getting bowled to one that kept low.

Lawrence at this point decided to try to up the scoring rate with George Downes intent on not giving his wicket away, however an unwise single caused George to be run out. A clipped six over wide long on followed by a swept boundary then brought up the captain's maiden fifty before he departed trying to hit out. A couple of lusty blows by Dan Penny got us close to 170 but we had to settle on 167-9 after our 47 overs.

Unfortunately our bowling performance didn't start off particularly well with a dropped catch in the first over setting the tone for the opening pair to put on 93. However as the old adage goes, one brings two, and from being 134-1 Hertford were reduced to 137-4. A couple more wickets made the game tighter but Hertford ultimately chased the score down for the loss of 7 wickets.

Some useful bowling performances from Dan, Mike and Liam, but we will all have to show a bit more of a cutting edge if we are to start winning games, both in the field and with the bat