THRIPLOW II kept their place at the top of the table after overcoming some stiff resistance from Barrington with a win by 39 runs.

Deciding to bat first in 30 degree-plus temperatures, Thriplow made slow progress initially against some tight bowling and uneven bounce. Richer and Alex Scully kept their discipline and Kevin Scully, replacing his son after being bowled for 4, was a little more contained than in recent matches.

Scully made steady progress but, following the dismissal of Richer (13), having seen off the opening bowlers, he was unable to find a partner with whom to build a significant stand as Walker (7), Preston (0) and Tuck (0) departed in quick succession. At 83-5 after 24 overs Thriplow felt that they had lost too many wickets to build a winning score.

The tide started to turn, however, with the arrival of Al Russell, who simply tore the bowling to shreds and his 39 runs included a memorable hook for four.

Scully finished 94* as Thriplow reached an admirable total of 200 considering the conditions.

In reply, Barrington’s openers set about the chase with aggression and made the first breakthrough in the seventh over when opener Care dismissed Lees.

Rotated at regular intervals, Thriplow’s bowlers did not find their usual rhythm and Barrington kept up with the required run-rate well into the second half of the innings. However, Thriplow took wickets with just about sufficient frequency to keep their noses in front and the turning point came when Russell’s in-swinging yorker took out dangerman Douglas’s leg stump after he had made 42 and threatened more.

Needing 76 off the last 14 overs, with six wickets in hand, Barrington were contained by second spells from Preston (3-37) and Baron and eventually Thriplow were able to spread the field to allow Barrington’s bigger hitters a single but no boundaries.

As the required rate grew, smart catches by Russell and Preston and two late wickets for Turner (2-14) followed and the margin of eventual victory looked more comfortable than it actually was.