Shenley Church End opened their season with an encounter against Drayton Parslow in Division Three, but could ended up with a extraordinary winning draw that saw the home side barely stumble out of the traps, to block out from early on and hold onto minimum points.
Frustration grew throughout Drayton's inept "chase" towards Shenley's bright first innings total of 238 from their 44 overs, as the host seemed intent on blocking out some above average bowling from the usual suspects in the SCECC attack - breakthroughs were not forthcoming, meaning the 18 points is more than an assured start to 2008.
With four first teamers missing - including Peakers, Boris, Nick and Homer - call ups to Simon Sidwell, Dave Morley, Michael Boyle and Steve Palmer meant Shenley still retained a good XI. It also saw No 3 Colin Wayman open alongside captain No 7 Stuart Hardwick... and they will be hard to push to remove themselves from these spot!
Wayman struck a sublime 77 while Hardwick notched up 46 in a 107 opening stand lasting half the innings - riding their early season luck with 3 dropped catches. Hardwick fell at deep cover, and Anton DeBeer carried his excellent form by smashing a 30 ball half century, including 4 massive sixes. This helped push Shenley to maximum batting points for 200 with 10 overs to spare.
A number of wickets fell in the final stages, Dave Morley (2) was run out and Richard Fletcher (16) holed out for Drayton's Mark Greaves to notch his 3rd catch, leaving Graham Teagle (11no) and Simon Sidwell (6no) to bat out the final stages. With Teagle falling at the death and offering Drayton another bowling point, the 238-6 total was easily enough runs.
The talk of the afternoon was certainly Parslow's attempt at gaining the pace set. They drifted along gaining less than 1 an over and at drinks taken at 24 overs, only a pitiful 37 on the board meant they were in danger of not troubling the batting points.
A run-out saw Shenley's first wicket, while Jay Fletcher, Anton DeBeer and Colin Wayman all took further wickets. Every bowler had a maiden to their modest totals, Jay gaining 2-16 and DeBeer 1-6 both from 8.As it turned out, even a few fours and a six late on in the innings didn't trouble the scoring.
The likes of Shane Rolls and Jamie Yates did not appear until the final over, even then ending on 75-5 brought to a close one of the most painful innings that Division 3 is likely to see. No matter though, Shenley take 18 points to Drayton's 4, the home side possibly could have taken more runs, scored more points and still not lost - a chance they weren't willing to take.
MATCH FACTS:
Pitch Condition: Dry and slightly soft, Outfield very soft/slow.
Catches dropped: 3
Toss: Won and Batted (1 out of 1, 1 bat, 0 bowl)
Team: Stuart Hardwick (c), Colin Wayman, Anton DeBeer, Richard Fletcher, Simon Sidwell, Graham Teagle, Jay Fletcher, Steve Palmer, Jon Pennells, Michael Boyle. Umpire: Anthony Brace.