DESPITE a few wobbles, largely of their own making, Thriplow continued their good start to the season with a hard fought win over Ely & Haddenham in CCA Senior League Two. After winning the toss, Thriplow chose to bowl, and Nigel Morris showed he felt thi

DESPITE a few wobbles, largely of their own making, Thriplow continued their good start to the season with a hard fought win over Ely & Haddenham in CCA Senior League Two.

After winning the toss, Thriplow chose to bowl, and Nigel Morris showed he felt this was the right decision as he snapped up three early wickets.

Wells drove uppishly and looked to have cleared a sleepy looking Chris Viner at mid-off when he suddenly leapt salmon-like to grab the ball one handed.

Dickon Turner then snapped up two smart slip catches, one conventionally held in his hands the other less so, between his thighs.

When skipper Abbott then played on to Viner, Ely were 12-4 after seven overs and looking in deep trouble.

Peacock and Tilbrook steadied things though and, aided by no less than four simple chances going to ground, gradually took control. Turner was particularly disappointed to see his first, (and hat-trick) ball, hit straight to cover where it went in and then out.

Morris bowled his full spell straight through in spite of the heat to finish with excellent figures of 12-5-28-3, but despite rotating the attack at the other end, a slightly weakened Thriplow attack were unable to break through.

Eventually Peacock swung across the line at Viner and was bowled for 48 but Tilbrook continued to farm the strike successfully, being especially severe on Turner.

However the bowler eventually got his revenge as Paul Staley took a sharp stumping to dismiss Tilbrook for 80.

Although second team skipper Martin Dabnor on a rare outing for the first team, bowled a tight spell (6-1-22-0) at the death, the rest of the wickets then all fell to Turner (11-0-64-5).

A cameo 20 by Hammerton, all in boundaries, pushed the final score up to 189 all out in the 43rd over, substantially more than either side had thought Ely would reach after their early mishaps.

Brothers Martin and Andy Craze launched the Thriplow reply, and Andy having received five short and wide deliveries, two of which he had managed to reach and smash to the cover fence, was surprised when Vincett found a sharp inswinger with his sixth and was bowled off his pads for eight.

Staley and Craze senior then dug in and looked in little trouble as they took the score to 57 when Staley attempted to clear mid-off in Hammerton's first over and failed, falling for 23.

When Viner misjudged the line and left his first ball alone only to see it flick the off stump, things were not looking good.

Neild, promoted up the order, restored some calm to proceedings as he and Craze added 30 more.

However when both fell quickly, Neild for 15 and Craze for 27, Thriplow were 92-5 and Ely were very much favourites.

However two seasoned old pro's in Turner and Godric Smith came to the crease and realised that the pitch held no demons and the run rate was only four an over.

They edged the score up and up, being assisted by a plethora of extras of all shapes and sizes as the Ely bowlers and fielders showed their lack of match practice.

Eventually Smith, having looked in complete control despite this being his first knock of the season, played down the wrong line to be bowled by Hammerton for 26.

However Thriplow were only 25 from victory and Turner launched his third six into cow corner to dispel the nerves.

Although Martin Dabnor fell for four, Jerry Jackson, despite a shoulder injury sustained in the field, shepherded Thriplow over the line by three wickets..

Turner finished on an excellent 41 not out, but was beaten to the top score by extras - with those 43 runs being the real difference between sides.

Thriplow take their 100 percent record to Eversden on Saturday, and although welcoming back some of the first team squad to strengthen the side, will have to be at their best against one of the pre-season promotion favourites.