Villagers Fuller joy

12:58pm Wednesday 11th June 2003

The village third eleven recorded their first win of the season on Saturday.

Stand in captain Warren Seeley won the toss and elected to field. This proved to be a wise decision, with the opening bowling partnership of Gary Putman and Lloyd Willingham reducing the home team to a meagre 20-2 off the first 12 overs.

Willingham made the initial breakthrough in the second over when the opening bat skied a delivery through the covers for an easy catch by Seeley. This was closely followed by some excellent fielding by Bob Voyce at mid wicket, combined with a mix up between the batsmen resulting in a run out.

Lars Burkhardt was brought into the attack to replace Willingham, and settled quickly in to his rhythm, taking an outstanding caught and bowled literally an inch off the ground. Putman completed his excellent stint with figures of 15-5-28-0; being replaced by Arthur Jenkins.

Wickets soon started to fall, as the middle order collapsed, including one batsman being bowled around his legs and three catches.

Jenkins finished his session with the third highest figures for Shenley of 8-3-19-7. Hoddesdon were bowled out for 103 inside 34 overs, leaving the villagers 66 overs to attain victory.

St John Fuller and Jenkins opened the batting and made slow progress, with Jenkins out after scoring two. Iqbal tamed the opening bowlers with a quickfire 16 before being bowled. Burkhardt joined Fuller for only two deliveries before making the lonely journey back to the pavilion without scoring. Willingham was next up and helped the score along playing some lovely shots, before being caught.

Fuller kept the score ticking over, and when Seeley joined him in the middle the score was 47 for 3. This partnership nearly saw the team home with Fuller on his way to an impressive 47 not out. With the villagers needing four to win Seeley came down the wicket to the young spinner and top edged his shot, the batsmen crossed before the keeper caught him. That put Fuller on strike and it was all over when he stroked the next delivery through the covers for three. SHENLEY IIIs: Seeley, Jenkins, Fuller, Voyce, Putman, Iqbal, Willingham, L Burkhardt, Rich, Stanley M, McGill.

Hoddesdon IV 103-10 Shenley Village III 104-5 Saracens Hertfordshire League Division 12

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