LEY HILL MADE TO WORK FOR THEIR WIN

Bottom-of-the-league Chesham Bois gave Ley Hill a scare or two before finally losing the match in the penultimate over.
Ley Hill won the toss and put Chesham into bat – a decision that looked decidedly dodgy as the Bois openers made 50 before Thomson was out for 28.  Sadly for Chesham the wickets fell at regular intervals from then on despite spirited innings from Beaumont (28) and Ross Kemp (34).  Chesham were eventually all out for 162.  The final wicket fell in the last over and a total of 10 maidens will explain at once how difficult Chesham were to get out and how hard it was to make runs on this pitch.
Ley Hill’s bowling had been tight and caused trouble for the Bois throughout their innings.  Scott Peterson, making a welcome return to the 1sts, took 3-43 in what was generally considered to be his best ever bowling performance at this level.  Sam Helm produced both a marvellous run out direct onto the stumps from square leg and 2-47 from 12 overs.  Jon Lown’s bowling was spot-on and his full spell ended on just over two runs per over at 1-25.
At 5-1 and then 43-2, Ley Hill knew that getting the ruins was going to be no easy task.  A middle order collapse that took them to 57-5 confirmed this as they struggled against spirited bowling from the Bois.  Ian Birkett made an excellent 55 but when he was out the score was 121-6 and the pressure really on.  At this point Ley Hill needed over 9 per over and, once again, it was up to Captain Fantastic Craig Ottaway.  His splendid 46 took Ley Hill to the winning target, a boundary four giving leaving them on 166-6 with just eight balls remaining.
Mick Adams (3-41) was the pick of the Bois bowlers, along with Mick Wardman (2-33), but it was Craig Rinsell and Ross Kemp who caused Ley Hill batsmen the most problems and it is a complete mystery why they were only allowed four overs each.
This was an exciting and friendly match and it is to be hoped that these teams avoid relegation so they can play against each other next season.

Robin Carr