Scorecard

Berkhamsted Cricket Club 2nd XI v Reed III on Sat 25 Jun 2016 at 1pm - 100 overs (53/47)
Berkhamsted Cricket Club Won By 107 runs

Match report
Following last week’s return to winning ways, Berkhamsted 2nd XI were keen to continue their good form against Reed III.

Reed won the toss and slightly unusually decided to field, despite only having 10 players at that point. Chris Debonnaire and Jamie Lewis opened the batting and set about scoring at a healthy rate. Debonnaire in particular punished anything short and wide, and cruelly dispatched the young Reed opening bowler for 28 from his first two overs. Lewis was annoyed after clipping a ball to midwicket on 4, while Debonnaire miscued a back foot drive to cover and departed one short of 50.

Brett Hopcroft and Gareth Preedy continued the positive batting, taking advantage of the fielding side being a man down and rotating the strike with good running between the wickets. The lively Hopcroft even took the opportunity to fist bump the bowler by way of apology after edging him through the slips for 4 at one point. With one eye on the clouds that were gathering on the horizon the skipper set a target of reaching 200 after 30 overs and then accelerating, intending to declare after 35. Both Hopcroft (58) and Preedy (51) completed their well-deserved half-centuries, and in the final few overs Darren Gower-Jackson (30*), Lee Mason (19) and Rob Prunty (10) pushed the total up to 245-8 from 35 overs.

The early declaration invited Reed to make a game of it, and they had 15 overs to survive before tea. The intention to make it to the break without losing a wicket looked tough from the first over as Prunty found the edge and a difficult chance went down at second slip. The early wicket came shortly after, Debonnaire grasping a sharp catch at gully off Toby Gribbin, who had managed to forget his Brexit woes for a few minutes. Meanwhile Prunty was becoming exasperated by the sight of the other Reed opener repeatedly cutting him over the slip cordon and demanded a fly slip. Four balls later the prescient Prunty had his man – the same late cut looping back to Dan Angel at fly slip.

Keen to dispel the notion that he only took bargain basement wickets against the tail, Mason brought himself on and set about removing Reed’s most dangerous batsmen. First the number 3 was bowled as he attempted to drive, followed by the number 5 who had top-scored in the equivalent fixture last season. Two regulation away swingers were followed by one that swung back into the left hander and bowled him through the gate for 2, giving Mason figures of 2-37.

Reed recovered with a partnership of almost 70 for the fifth wicket, but batting for 65 overs was always going to be a challenge. Wright eventually got the breakthrough with a leading edge to Debonnaire at point, and followed this up with three more wickets as the Reed tail capitulated to finish with 4-20. Finally Martin Henderson got the reward he deserved and picked up the last wicket as Reed were all out for 138 off 43.2 overs.

It was a solid win for the 2nd XI in the 53/47 over format, consolidating our position at the top of the league. It is away to Luton Town & Indians IV next week, where we will be looking to put further distance between us and the other sides in Division 8A.

Berkhamsted Cricket Club 2nd XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 7w 15b 1lb 
for 8 wickets
24
245		        
Chris Debonnaire Caught  49 2
Jamie Lewis Caught  4
Gareth Preedy Bowled  51
Brett Hopcroft Caught  58
Darren Gower-Jackson Not Out  30
Daniel Angel Caught  0 1
Lee Mason Caught  19
James Wright Caught  0
Robert Prunty Caught  10
Toby Gribbin Not Out  0
Martin Henderson  

Reed III Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Reed III Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 3w 2b 2lb 
for 9 wickets
8
138 (43.2 overs)		     
Willoughby ct Gribbon 10
Hughes ct Pruntey 17
Baker b Mason 23
Bowles Not Out  40
Robertson not out Mason 2
P.Baker ct Wright 27
Naeam b Wright 3
Gifford b Wright 0
Giblin b Wright 1
Roberts b Henderson 2
   

Berkhamsted Cricket Club 2nd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Robert Prunty10.0231131.003.10
Toby Gribbin5.0024124.004.80
Lee Mason8.0037218.504.62
Martin Henderson9.2018118.001.93
James Wright11.042045.001.82