Match report by R.Clapp

‘By the barest of margins……..’

Over 70s make the County Championship final – just!
The joint Oxs/Bucks Over 70s are through to their Seniors County Championship final
thanks to a nail-biting two run win over Hertfordshire.
And they did it the hard way – at the second attempt and also away from home at
Langleybury CC, after the weather put paid to the first encounter between the two sides at
Horspath CC, with the tie evenly poised when the heavens opened.
With Herts now enjoying home advantage the hosts then won the toss and asked the visitors
to bat after which Derek Watts looked dominant early on for the visitors as he struck a six
and a four in his first 15 runs before he was caught and bowled by Keith Martin with the
score on 20 in the fifth over.
Ian Stuart and new batsman Charlie Anderson were more circumspect as they moved the
score along to 45 in the 14 th over when Stuart was again caught and bowled this time by
Colin Winton for 12 off 41 balls as Herts began to exert some real pressure with the ball.
However, new batsman Phil Ridgeway was soon busy and he and Anderson looked like they
had steadied the ship when yet again Herts wrestled back the advantage when Indran
Thavendra trapped Anderson in front for 29 with the score on 69 in the 20 th over.
And three wickets soon became four when three balls later Ronnie Brock went for nought.
Ridgeway needed a partner to stay with him and the visitors needed a big stand to get them
back in the game. Ian Harvey did not disappoint on either count.
With Ridgeway looking increasingly fluent and Harvey prudently rotating the strike the pair
proceeded to add 153 in 23 overs with Ridgeway striking 13 fours and two sixes in a
wonderfully counter attacking knock of 112 off 92 balls in just over two hours at the crease,
before he was caught off Martin by keeper Geoff Graveson
Harvey’s vital role was no less valuable as he compiled a patient 45 not out from 66 balls in
his hour and half stay at the crease, which eventually saw Oxs/Berks through to a very
respectable 225 for 5 from their 45 overs. A competitive total but by no means out of reach
for the hosts’ batting line up. Game on.
For Herts Indran Thavendra and Keith Martin took 2-32 and 2-41 respectively from their nine
over spells well supported by Colin Winton with 1-28.
In reply Herts – despite the early retirement of Duncan Elder for eight when the score was on
24 – laid a top order platform that put them well in control as Indran Thavendra and Simon
Clements posted a stand of 87 in 18 overs to take the score on to 111and put the hosts well
in control.
But the visitors refused to roll over and the breakthrough came when Steve Partington had
Thavendra caught by Ian Harvey for a 68 off 90 balls in 90 minutes, which was then closely
followed by three more quick wickets, as Herts slipped from 111 for 1 to 145 for 4 with just 10
overs left to score 80 runs.
First Jerry Dovey went for 11, bowled by Adrian Manger, followed by Geoff Graveson who
was caught and bowled by centurion Ridgeway for six, and then key wicket of the well-set

Clements for 40 off 66 balls, bowled by Partington. Oxs/Bucks were back in the game and
had the all-important momentum as the game moved to its climax.
But it was still nip and tuck all the way as both sides looked to get their noses in front. Dave
Robinson was going well at a run a ball with Dominic Ingram after Tariq Hassan came and
went for just two, caught by Ian Stuart off Ridgeway.
Robinson and Ingram posted 45 for the sixth wicket and looked to have gained the upper
hand, but when Robinson was stumped by Nino Trapani off the wily Partington, the game
shifted yet again, as the overs began to slip away and the pressure mounted on the Herts
batsman.
Keith Martin was then caught and bowled for nought by that man Ridgeway, followed five
runs later by Ingram whose 23 off 19 balls had brought Herts within sight of the finishing line
before he was lbw to Ronnie Brock, who had to step up and bowl at the death due to injury
to Jim Blackford.
This then left the final pairing of Alan Hunter and Colin Winton 25 to score off the final 17
deliveries. And they very nearly got there.
With the assistance of just one boundary they got within two runs of the target as they
scampered their ones and twos, while the visitors tried to maintain their composure and
discipline in the field – which they managed – just!
Hunter made 12 not out off eight balls while Wilton was 10 not out at a run a ball. So close –
but still two runs short.
For Oxs/Berks it was the change bowlers that cracked open the Herts batting. Steve
Partington took 3-51 from his nine while man of the match Phil Ridgeway bagged 3-42. In
contrast the ever economical Trevor Spindler also played his part by shutting down one end
with 0-22 from his nine overs when the Herts top order were well in control.
After the game skipper Adrian Manger was quick to praise the vanquished hosts. “This was
some game of cricket. Neither side was prepared to back down and the advantage ebbed
and flowed right up to the last ball and it truly could have gone either way. Herts put up a
tremendous fight.
“I thought at one stage we might be heading for a tied game, but somehow we held both our
nerve and discipline to keep it just tight enough in those last three overs.”
Oxs/Berks now play Kent for the Over 70s County Championship in the final match of the
season which is due to be played on Thursday September 11 th at Chesham CC, Bucks. 12
noon start.