Village maintain winning run with defeat of Northwood

SHL Division Two

Northwood 224

Shenley Village 226-3

Shenley Village won by seven wickets

Shenley Village made it three wins in a row as they cruised to a comfortable victory over visiting Northwood.

Shenley won the toss and opted to field on a sunny but cool afternoon, although things did not completely go according to plan.

Despite taking an early wicket, opener Murray being caught and bowled by Rob Laney, the home side toiled in vain as Northwood took advantage of a short square boundary; dispatching any short balls for four.

They had quickly compiled 125 before the second wicket of Brockton fell to left-arm seamer James Davenall.

Reeve, batting at three, hit 50 off 43 balls and went on to make 78 before a brilliant diving catch by Craig Rawlings sent him back to the pavilion.

The introduction of Rawlings and medium-pacer Rahul Gajjar into the bowling attack was a turning point; slowing the run rate right down and taking crucial wickets.

The tail were then fairly swiftly removed as Laney returned for his second spell, leaving Northwood with the decent but quite gettable total of 224 all out. Laney, Rawlings and Gajjar took three wickets each with Davenall claiming one.

In reply, Shenley also suffered an early wobble as Anooj Vadgama was bowled for 11 with the score on 20. But they kept their heads and stuck to their task well, with Charlie Thurston and Laney putting on 64 runs before being dismissed in successive overs. Once again it was the in-form pair of Rahul Gajjar and Lloyd Willingham - enjoying an unbeaten 140-run partnership - who saw Shenley safely home. Gajjar made an entertaining 69, including 10 4s and two 6s, while Willingham compiled an assured 53.

A successful run chase never looked in doubt as they finished on 226-3 with five overs in hand. Nandiraju was the best of the Northwood bowlers with 2-61.

The win moves Shenley to sixth position in the Division Two table with an exciting game in prospect on Saturday, when they take on top club Flitwick.