Cooper leads Harpenden to victory

BIG-HITTING from Harpenden’s Greg Cooper led his team to an eight-wicket win at home to Banbury.

Harpenden hosted Banbury in the Home Counties Premier League Division One on the common with a weakened bowling attack due to injury and unavailability.

However, when Banbury won the toss and elected to bat Rohan Panacharatnam and Simon White took up the challenge and bowled great lines to reduce the visitors to 58-4.

West and Cater rebuilt the innings with a patient 90 run partnership for the fifth wicket and at one time it looked as if Harpenden would be chasing a not insignificant total.

However, Simon White, who finished with 5-66 and Ben Frazer reduced the visitors to a very gettable 180 all out.

In reply Greg Cooper hit a brilliant 84 from 86 balls and with James Latham (44) put on 135 for the first wicket ensuring that victory was achieved with 15 overs to spare and by eight wickets.

The 2nd XI travelled to the beautiful Bedfordshire village of Eversholt and were asked to bat on a track that had some pace and bounce.

Barney Francis and Ed Washington scored 50s as Harpenden finished on 198 all out.

Simon Avis finished with impressive figures of 7-44 from 16 for Eversholt.

In reply Eversholt appeared to be cruising to victory at 66-1 before the Harpenden attack of Chris Arnold (2-35), Will Downes (4-36) and Sam Boothby (3-35) demolished the home side’s batting who ended up with 132 all out.