Thriplow (142-5) beat Helions Bumpstead (141-8) by three wickets. WHEN the time comes for Thriplow II to reflect on their season, they may well regret the games they have lost through poor batting – three times so far this season they have failed to chase

Thriplow (142-5) beat Helions Bumpstead (141-8) by three wickets.

WHEN the time comes for Thriplow II to reflect on their season, they may well regret the games they have lost through poor batting - three times so far this season they have failed to chase scores under 150.

Yet the manner of their run chase and victory against Bumpstead was so comprehensive one feels they could well be challenging at the other end of the table if their batsmen could offer more consistency.

In truth they were aided by a strange decision by the Bumpstead skipper to field, thus giving Thriplow the use of the new ball on a damp wicket from a morning's rain.

Opening bowlers Jansen (0-22) and Deed were able to use these conditions to apply early pressure and they restricted the Bumpstead openers to 33-0 after 12 overs.

It it wasn't until the introduction of change bowlers Richer (0-27) and Tuck (1-7) that Thriplow were able to make a breakthrough, and their sustained bowling was continued by Turner (4-33) and Deed (2-33) who restricted Bumpstead to 141-7.

An outrageous piece of misfortune contributed to an unconvincing beginning by Thriplow's top order when backing up beyond his crease, Mark Richer (8) was run out when Carr's straight drive was deflected onto his stumps by bowler Richardson.

His son Olly (7) showed his inexperience when he was bowled attempting to hook a ball which kept low, and a disastrous run out between Carr and Goodacre (0) left Thriplow on 36-3.

New batsman Tuck was able to take the game away from Bumpstead by producing a match winning innings of 62, dominating a 83 run partnership with Carr.

Bumpstead may well regret their decision to bring back bowlers Richardson (1-23) and Vickery (1-26) at such a late stage, as they were able to remove Tuck and then Carr (33) within the space of two overs.

New batsmen Jackson (6no) and Deed (10no) were required to score 20 more runs though, and they saw Thriplow to a five wicket victory.