Boys learn from their mistakes to hammer Hertford

After succumbing to an under strength Knebworth team in our last game, we arrived at Hertford to find a side missing many of the players we have faced over the past few seasons. Sometimes, the knowledge that the opposition is weaker than usual can lead to complacency, but this evening the side were determined to assert their dominance and - eventually - did so in style.

It all started a little shakily when Matt Pike skied his first ball to cover to depart for a golden duck, and opening partner Alec Chappell's prolific weekend came to an abrupt end when LBW for 3.

Alex Portas looked like he would break a few records as he smashed seven fours to race to 28 in the third over, but he played one shot too many to Heald and was bowled. At 41-3 after four overs we were in no danger of scoring too slowly, but a period of sensible accumulation was required and in Elliot Needham and Joe Hawkins we had just the men for the job. After a sumptuous off drive to get off the mark, Elliot collected singles with ease, while Joe looked in decent touch from the start and ran positively as Hertford set deep fields.

After 9 overs we had 97, and to Hertford's credit they bowled tidily to stem the flow in the second half of the innings. Hawkins retired for an effortless 50 and Needham seemed certain to join him before departing for 46 as he tried to bring up his half-century in style.

Joe Burslem and Coby Miles combined well to take us to 160 after our 20 overs; possibly 20 or so fewer than looked likely at one stage, but the pitch was quite slow and the boys couldn't be faulted for effort.

If Hertford harboured any hopes of winning, they were ended in Adam Crowther's opening over when he had Heald caught for a duck by Jake Morris and then bowled Watson with a fast, lethal delivery. With Morris bowling another tight, pacy spell at the other end, our hosts were 21 for 2 from 5 and pretty much out of it. Max Lawrence played well for 31 and McCallum fought hard for 21, but the game petered out - slowly - before Coby Miles bowled Lawrence and Elliot Needham ran out McCallum after dropping him.

A third wicket for Crowther from the final ball of the innings gave him figures of 3-24 and saw us win by 59 runs.

After several cracking games of cricket against Hertford over the past few years, played in a good spirit, it was a shame to find them weakened by injury and unavailability. But beating them felt a lot better than losing to Knebworth.