Evans's knock picks up

5:52pm Wednesday 7th July 2004

SHENLEY VILLAGE V HEXTON Shenley Village, having experienced a a poor run of form of late, played away at second-from-bottom Hexton on Saturday After the home side won the toss and elected to bat, Shenley got off to a bright start in the field with Ed Lillywhite dismissing both openers cheaply. However, it then started to go downhill for the away side, who only had ten men., due to some poor bowling and fielding enabling Hexton to take control.

Aided by a fine century from Patel, Hexton punished some wayward Shenley bowling to rack up a total of 249 for 9 declared. Steve Scott (2-46) and Matt Woodward (4-97) returned the best bowling figures.

Shenley were set 249 to win from only 45 overs, due to a brief interruption of rain in the first innings. They got off to a good start with Richard Evans and Vimal Rajasekaran scoring early boundaries. Rajasekaran was then unluckily bowled for ten.

Skipper Rahul Gajjar was bowled for eight entered the crease but was soon bowled for 8 and when Scott went straight away for a duck, edging a ball to first slip, Shenley were in trouble on 49 for 3.

James Davenall joined Evans and they set about rebuilding the innings. Davenall (34) played elegant drives through the covers and, with Evans also playing freely, their partnership reached 67 before the former was bowled.

Evans then took the initiative and soon reached his 50. As the required run-rate crept up to around 6.5 an over, Lillywhite (14) and Woodward (7) were both out going for ambitious strokes. It was the dismissal of Evans (81), however, the seventh man out, that ended any chances of a Shenley victory.

Shelley made just eight (8) was also dismissed and it was left to Geoff Evans and Tom Blackman to play out the last five overs to earn Shenley a draw, as they closed on 191-8.

Shenley Village travel to play Rickmansworth II on Saturday and will be looking to recapture their form to climb up the table for a possible promotion chase.

However, their fielding and bowling must improve. if they stand any chance of achieving this. Shenley Village: R Evans, Rajasekaran, Gajjar, Scott, Davenall, Lillywhite, Woodward, G Evans, Shelley, Blackman Hexton 249-9 dec Shenley Village 191-8 Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League Division Sixo

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