THRIPLOW seconds found the going tough against Elmden. They elected to bat first and despite the early loss of Anderson, Theo Giasemidis (31) and Dan Carr (24) set about laying down a firm foundation. With the score on 63-1 in the 17th over, Giasemidis

THRIPLOW seconds found the going tough against Elmden.

They elected to bat first and despite the early loss of Anderson, Theo Giasemidis (31) and Dan Carr (24) set about laying down a firm foundation.

With the score on 63-1 in the 17th over, Giasemidis decided it was time to push on.

A firmly-struck drive brought two runs and the next ball was targeted for the far distance, but was, instead, mistimed to present a simple catch to the home side's Angus Dixon.

The middle order failed to recover the situation, with far too many players being guilty of not grinding out an innings in the trying circumstances.

Elmden's Badcock produced a fine spell ending with excellent figures of 4 for 17 off seven tight overs and such was his accuracy that the batsmen were not entirely to blame for the downfall.

In tandem with Dixon (3 for 29), Badcock hastened the demise of the Thriplow innings which ended on an unsatisfactory 104 all out.

What was pleasing was Thriplow's approach to the Elmden innings, as they set about trying to defend their meagre total with conviction.

The Thriplow bowlers needed a good and incisive start, but Elmden's Gale (12), Starr (21) and Dan Gaine had other ideas and quashed any thoughts of an early fightback.

The first wicket went down at 30, the second at 45, and the third at 60, and with such a low total to defend, the betting should have been on a comfortable Elmden win.

Ali King (5 for 58) took wickets, but runs were also coming at the same time.

A slick run out and a hat-trick of catches by Dan Carr meant that Elmden's soft under-belly was fully exposed.

If Thriplow had managed to score an extra 20 runs, the outcome of this fixture could have been different, but in the end Elmden tottered over the victory line with three wickets in hand.