Harberton v Aveton Gifford played on 30^th May 2010

• Match Played at Stonehills
• Toss won by Harberton
• Harberton 261 for 6 wkts (40 overs)
• Aveton Gifford 102 all out  (22.5 overs)
• Harberton win by 159 runs

After a long dry spell, the uncovered wicket at Stonehills was offering up that rare sight – tennis ball bounce. The question was whether the seasoned Harberton players would find their form in such unusual conditions – so accustomed are they to grinding out a score on low, slow wickets. When Captain Jack Buckner won the toss, he took the natural option of batting first and trusted an unusually strong batting line up to deliver the goods despite the somewhat alien (to Harberton) conditions.

Whether it was the tempting high bounce, or a recent diet of viewing 20/20 cricket on the television, the opening partnership of C. Buckner and M. Harvey threw their bats around with gay abandon, much to the consternation of their captain. Harvey was particularly fortunate to survive the first few overs, as Shepherd (2-34) and Edmonds (1-43) steamed in from either end. Shephard’s pace and accuracy was impressive – almost daunting. Nonetheless, runs flowed fast in those first five overs until Buckner (10) slashed at a straight ball and lost his middle stump and returned to the hut with only ten runs to his name.

Baxendale (0) didn’t last long and it took a steadfast bit of rebuilding to calm the captain’s nerves as Ray’s steady presence brought a little responsibility to the crease. Harvey seemed to have no need of it as his early flashes had transformed into effortless pulls and elegant drives that kept the scoreboard moving swiftly. Nonetheless the batting order was being juggled and rethought over by over as plans b,c & d were considered and batsmen started padding up down the order.

By the time Ray (26) was caught from Taylor’s clever variations of line and length, plan A was back in place and Tobias went to the crease with instructions to keep the momentum firmly on Harberton’s side. He failed and joined Baxendale in the duck pond. Sticking to plan A, Buckner sent in G. Oakey (57 n.o.)with license to play with freedom. His 114 run partnership with the fluent Harvey was a joy to behold from the Harberton benches.

As the forty overs ticked down, Harvey’s tally rose and rose until he reached a mightily impressive score of 150, eventually falling to the opening bowler Shepherd who returned in one last blast of pace and hostility. Harberton cheered their hero of the day and with a final score of 261 on the board, they tucked into their tea with relish.

As they took the field, the Harberton captain drew his team together to give them a stern talking to. “Aveton Gifford will come at us hard” he admonished, instructing his bowlers and fielders in serious tones. When the opening bats of Shepherd and Clarke began their reply, Harberton had evidence of Buckner’s warnings. In the very first over, Shepherd slog swept Buckner for 6 and another ball was lost over the hedge – this was proving to be an expensive match!

Aveton Gifford had a tough task ahead with a run rate of over 6 an over to maintain but for those first 7 overs it looked within the realms of possibility. However, when Buckner (2-23) had Clark edged behind for 11 and then Pike (2-7) took the dangerman Shepherd for 29, the chance of success slipped away fast. New batsman Barnet’s feet were planted to the crease, but never took root. Edmonds offered a little last hope, but the pressure was mounting cruelly and the wickets tumbled cheaply.

Chasing a big score always puts great pressure on batsmen to attack before they properly play themselves in , inevitably leading to wickets falling. It offered the captain an opportunity to spread the bowling around and share the spoils. Baxendale has his revenge for his duck, aking 2 for 9 off three overs and Newson bowled a fine spell as he too struck twice, returning figures of 2 for 6 . Tobias’ brace of wickets were more expensive, but wickets are wickets and Harberton now had ten to their credit and Aveton Gifford were bowled out with 17 overs left in the match.

Harvey’s knock was the difference. 150 runs is the second highest score ever for a Harberton batsman. He rode his luck and on this occasion enjoyed his success.

Another excellent win for Harberton.