Harlton 185-2 Bassingbourn 157 all-out Harlton won by 28 runs

HARLTON completed a league double over Bassingbourn in a reduced overs game on Saturday.

With the wet weather it was agreed to play 32 overs for each innings. Lewis Rawlinson made an early breakthrough when opener Gary Mills-Thomas was caught by Ben Allen at cover for one.

Luc Pascal bowled a great spell uphill as his eight overs went for only 22 runs. Harlton then began to push on with Simon Banks finding the boundary more often as Bassingbourn’s bowlers struggled to find a decent length.

Banks was dropped in the 20s and made the most of the let off to pile up the runs. Banks got good support from Nick Lloyd before the latter was bowled by Allen for 41. Banks went on to complete an unbeaten century making 102* in a total of 185.

Bassingbourn’s hopes rested on the form of wicketkeeper batsman Matt Andrews and he started positively despite wickets falling around him.

He bought up his half century during a 50 partnership with Andy Smith. After Smith was out Tom Andrews joined his brother at the crease but Matt was bowled for 64 by a ball that rolled agonisingly back onto the stumps off his pad.

Tom Andrews and chairman/treasurer Rupert Webb looked to hit Bassingbourn to victory and had a partnership of 47 before Andrews was caught for 24.

Webb hit some big 6s but fell for 35. The inexperienced tail was left with too much to do and they all perished while trying to play big shots. It was a deserved victory for Harlton with Gareth Hughes and Jeremy Cotton picking up five and four wickets respectively.