Shenley Church End relaxed into their Tour 2008 weekend safe in the knowledge their pinnacle position in FCCL Division Three table is a fantastic start from 4 matches, gaining that spot after a well managed seven wicket victory over Eggington Foresters 1sts.
Starting with two different players, Simon Sidwell and Michael Boyle were drafted in for the absent Anton DeBeer and Jon Pennells, Stuart Hardwick (recovering from a car + ditch incident) used the first innings for a bowl on a wet and surprisingly firm pitch. Rain halted proceedings with 23 balls bowled, the umpire thus deciding it was a 43 overs per side game.
Jay Fletcher produced early bounce off a length, and gained the first wicket with a sprightly catch off Sidwell at fine leg. Sidwell got the nod to open the bowling at the opposite end, and produced some fine bowling to peg back Eggington's somewhat attacking batsmen, gaining 2-31 off 10 straight overs.
Foresters were around the 90 mark at drinks, S Thompson - lucky not to fall victim earlier on more than one occasion - struck 61 before finally succumbing, and with the visitors sharing around the wickets, the home side limped to 161 from 42 overs, giving SCECC 44 overs to play with.
Eggington's opening pair were extremely accurate, claiming Homer Evans' wicket early on, caught at deep mid wicket, restricting Shenley to 40 with 20 overs only the board. Andy Peacock and Colin Wayman soon started to open up as the bowler's changed. Peakers and Nick Rogers fell in quick succession after the score tipped over 100, giving Richard Fletcher and Wayman the chance to shine.
Punishing Eggington's 5th and 6th bowlers, the target rattled up in double quick time, Wayman ending undefeated on 75 with an array of well timed shots with 6 overs to spare, meaning 122 had been scoring in just 18 overs - all this with 2 main batsmen yet to enter the fray!
MATCH FACTS:
Pitch Condition: Slight wet but hard, Outfield wet.
Catches dropped: 0
Toss: Won (2 out of 4)
Team: Andy Peacock, Homer Evans, Colin Wayman, Nick Rogers, Richard Fletcher, Stuart Burke, Stuart Hardwick (c), Graham Teagle, Simon Sidwell, Jay Fletcher, Michael Boyle. Umpire: None.