HIGH-FLYING Thriplow maintained their excellent start to the season with a three-wicket victory over lowly Barley II on Saturday.

Thriplow won the toss and put their opponents in to bat on a rather patchy looking pitch.

The decision seemed vindicated when Care opened up with pace and control and extracted just the right amount of movement to trouble both Barley openers.

It was no surprise when he snapped up the wicket of Knobel-Forbes before he could stamp his mark – gleefully accepting a simple caught and bowled opportunity.

Beedell joined Riggs in the middle and both were worried by bowlers Care and Baron and another wicket seemed inevitable. A heavy downpour, however, changed the complexion of the match as batting became easier due to the ball skidding through and becoming harder for the bowlers to control.

Riggs in particular, dropping in from Barley’s first team, enjoyed the change of circumstances and set about punishing the two bowlers to race through to a fine 50.

Even Beedell grew in confidence and, when drinks came after twenty overs, lowly Barley had moved nicely on to 98-1.

Thriplow introduced the wily Dickon Turner who was able to put the brakes on at one end while Jansen, bowling from the other end, was unable to achieve a similar result in his first few overs.

A wicket was desperately needed and Turner rose to the occasion. His miserly bowling brought a rash shot from the previously assured Riggs (68) and he was well taken in the deep by Care.

The flood gates were opened and Thriplow poured through. The awesome Turner picked up another couple of wickets to finish with well-earned figures of 10-5-2-3, Jansen improved with every over and ended with 1-37 while Baron returned to demolish the tail with 4-32.

Having been 105-1, Barley staggered to 133-9 at the close to post a target that was disappointing.

Thriplow made the worst possible start to their innings, however, and put themselves under pressure from right from the off. Regular opener Richer was out third ball and run-machine Kevin Scully was out off the first ball of the second over to leave Thriplow reeling at 1-2.

The home bowlers knew how to bowl on their own strip and almost every ball was a challenge. It was important that Thriplow dug in and that’s precisely what they did.

Sam Jones (12) joined makeshift opener Dabnor in the middle and both set about repelling the nagging attack, while waiting for the rare bad ball to pick up runs.

The score grew slowly as overs ticked by and the pressure was still on Thriplow when they lost their third wicket for 25 in the eighth over. Dan Tinkler entered the arena and both he and Dabnor played with uncharacteristic caution to make sure they were able to see off opening bowlers Litson (10-0-16-1) and Chuck (10-1-33-2).

With the hard work apparently done, and less challenging change bowlers to be milked, the batsmen thought they could relax which proved to be their undoing.

Bowler Pattison, dropping the ball invitingly on a length, picked up three quick wickets to swing the contest in Barley’s favour. First Dabnor (30), then Tinkler (12) and Steve Hart (8) were out to shots they would rather forget and the game swung Barley’s with Thriplow precariously placed at 97-7.

However, Thriplow were able to pull the game back from the brink. Nick Cliffe played one of his most assured innings for some time to break the hearts of hopeful Barley. In the company of Jansen (9*), Cliffe was quick to punish the bad ball and rotate strike on better balls to inch closer to victory. A six and a handful of fours from Cliffe (39*) were enough to clinch victory for his side.