All-round effort: Luke Chapman took two wickets and scored 30 with the bat
Knebworth Park’s great escape act in the battle to avoid relegation from Division One of the Saracens Herts League continues after their fifth win in six games as they overcame Broxbourne.
It was in some ways their most crucial victory to date as their opponents were only two points above them in the table before the start of play. Their four-wicket win leapfrogged them up to seventh in the table to take them out of the bottom two for the first time this season.
They are now 15 and 16 points clear of St Margaretsbury and Broxbourne respectively with two games to go – but the Park’s fate still hangs is in the balance with two tough games ahead against local rivals Hitchin on Saturday and promotion chasers Dunstable in the final game.
The win was again built around an outstanding team effort.
After a steady opening spell by Ben Orchard (1-36) and Guy Warman, (1-46) the spinners set to work. Luke Chapman (2-32) and Graham Fisher (1-34) reduced them from 49 for 1 to 97 for 5.
No.5 bat Gagan Dissanayake (41) led a recovery before skipper Sam Gardiner intervened to remove him, the skipper’s off-spin producing the meanest figures of 1 for 15 off 10 overs.
Left arm seamer Ross Courtney chipped in with a vital wicket, too.
But the tailenders then batted sensibly on a good batting wicket to battle back from 138 for 8 to 185 for 9 at the end of their 50 overs.
In reply, Josh Roseberry (36) and Chapman (30) gave them a bright start of 61 before Adam Sergeant’s crucial knock of 45 locked the innings together.
He was then the first of four to fall to the leg spin of Robin Glassberg who took 4 for 25 in 10 overs, to cause some tension in the run chase as they slipped from 143 for 2 to 168 for 6.
Gardiner (16) and Matt Hutchinson (12) chipped in with valuable contributions.
But the serene chase had become a tad nervy until Warman (24 not out) saw them home, striking 16 off one over, to win with three overs to spare on 186 for 6.
Considering Broxbourne were over 70 points clear of the Park six weeks ago the win marks a remarkable turnaround in fortunes.
