Thatcham Cricket Club look forward after narrow Purley loss
Thatcham Cricket Club started their season with a competitive encounter at home to Purley on Thames.
Purley won the toss and chose to bat first hoping to run up a decent score in the Saturday sunshine.
It was a great start for Thatcham’s bowlers, as Odhinn Moore took the wicket of opener James Denton early on.
Denton went for a duck after just five balls, while wicket-keeper opener Andrew Clarke managed slightly better.
He hit 17 from 27 balls, but was caught and bowled by Olly Thorne to leave Purley 39-2.
Robbie Jeffrey set out to steady the ship for his side, and he did just that by hitting a quick 47 from 49 balls.
He was bowled by Arun Ganesh Madhasaravanan however, before Chris Bird took the wickets of Patrick Allen and captain George Wheeler to leave them 91-5.
Ahmed Siddique’s arrival at sixth in the order helped to improve things for Purley, as he hit a patient 25 from 48 balls.
But it was Jacob Hearn who took the innings to a new level, stepping in to hit 51 from 80 balls.
He finished not-out, having hit seven fours on the way to his half-century.
Tail-ender Sam Jugg made 26 of his own, as Purley completed their 45 overs 201-9.
Thatcham needed to make a strong start in response.
Tasked with this was newly appointed captain Michael Klichowicz, who opened for his side along with Ben Denton-Powell.
The skipper could only make 17 however, before he was caught out after 24 balls.
His partner fared worse, bowled LBW by Jugg, having scored just seven.
Wicket-keeper Jack Young arrived at three to make a difference, and he did just that by knocking 21 from 23 balls.
Harley Sheridan-Hawkins didn’t stay alongside him for long however, as he was out for nought off five balls.
Thatcham’s top scorer came in the middle order, as Seamus Levin stepped up with a punchy 56 from 45 balls.
Levin hit nine fours and a pair of sixes on his way to a half-century.
The lower order just couldn’t quite find enough to win the game, with a series of scores in the mid-teens not enough to bridge the gap.
Jugg, Jeffrey and Patrick Allen took three wickets each as Thatcham were bowled out for 167.
The 34 run loss leaves Thatcham third from bottom, having taken home points for both their batting and bowling efforts.
Saturday sees them travel to early league leaders, Harpsden.