After a delayed start, the game was reduced by 12 overs. Shenley won the toss and elected to bat first.

However, only three balls into the game, their oppener Rees was caught, mistiming off the extremely soft wicket.

Ray McLennan joined Dave Stubbs, but in the eighth over Stubbs (2) too was caught with the score on just 19, and four overs later Richard Evans was run out on 3-30, but Zak Iqbal (6) and McLennan then built a 28 run partnership.

However, Raz Nel, took to the bowling with creative blows over the top, rattling up a quick 50 with three sixes and four fours before being caught, and after that partnership of 78 in 16 overs with McLennan, the score had progressed to 136-5 and McLennan, who had now also reached 50 with six boundaries of his own, then continued on with four further assortment of partners for the final ten overs to reach 160-8 at the end of their 48 overs, to finish on 70 not out.

Shenley were looking for quick wickets and started well, when Simon Meryck struck in the fifth over and Stephen Elliot bowled Dellow in the eleventh over. Two further clean bowleds from Frank Lillywhite and another from Elliot saw the visitors struggling 34-5 off 21 overs.

At that time, the Thorley captain Bob Mills dug in for a draw frustrating Shenley's need to take wickets.

The introduction of 15-year-old leg spinner Richard Evans gave control back to Shenley as he first bowled Mills (19) around his legs and then took three more cheap wickets. But Thorley were desperately holding on at 73-9 and their last pair blocked out.

Shenley Village III 160-8

Thorley II 74-9

Saracens Herts League

Division 13

June 19, 2002 13:30