Sunny warm conditions welcomed bottom team Little Harrowden to Compton Park for the first game against the two for some time. The visitors won the toss put the Cooks into bat. In the first sixteen overs both sides battled for accessendcy but at 40-1 at the drinks break honours were about even, as the Cooks looked to build on their solid start. With the loss of Dan Harris, skipper Ryan (spectacularly caught & bowled first ball) and Bird the younger for a magnificent 2 -Ed, things were looking now distinctly dicey.
From the start Jack Quennell batted patiently and was now joined by veteran Dave Patrick. This pair with a mixture of sensible batting and lightening running between the wickets were now building a recovery for the Cooks. With the duo passing the fifty partnership Jack was unfortunately dismissed two short of his own well deserved half century. Ben Garrett joined the understandably tiring DP and just when the stand looked to be making further progress in taking the Cooks closer to the skippers revised target of 150-180, Ben unluckily pulled a leg muscle requiring him to call for a runner. With this injury restricting his movement his innings did not last for long.
DP who was now becoming increasingly weary and was eighth man out, run out for a vital 38. His contribution and that of Jack ensured that the Cooks bowlers had a target to defend, giving a fighting chance of victory.
With the resumption of play Sid and Tony reduced the visitors to 57-7 from 20 overs. After Tony’s bowling heroics of last week it was Sid’s chance to make his mark, taking the first three wickets to fall. In all Sid claimed 5 victims his last being the dangerous Harrowden skipper who compiled 32 runs amongst the clatter of wickets. With only 3 wickets to bag and one hundred still left score things were looking good for the Cooks. The visitors eighth wicket pair with a mixture of aggression, luck and increasing confidence were steadily reducing the runs required. With the introduction of new bowlers Matt Irons and Mark Bird the scoring rate was actually increasing and with less than forty runs required it appeared a tactical change was needed to stem the tide. Mark decided to bowl around the wicket and the change of bowling angle brought immediate results. Harrowden’s number seven whose risky shot making had greatly contributed to the oppositions change of fortune took one liberty too many to Mark’s change of attack and was clean bowled. The game was now back in the Cook’s grasp and with Mark & Matt soon claiming the remaining two wickets a victory had been claimed from the jaws of defeat.
Little Harrowden belied their league position with a determined display which ensured the Cooks had to dig deep when batting and bowling. With all sides in Division 10 appearing to well matched the Cooks will need to be on their mettle for the second half of the season to ensure the best possible league placing is achieved.