HARDEN Hornets chalked up their second win of the year when they accounted for Bookham in the last of the T20 matches.
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Played in hot conditions on the Bookham Recreation Ground, where sheep had grazed everything to ground level, except three thistles at fine leg, runs were there for the taking.
The game commenced with a minute’s silence for former Bookham player and committee member Neville Bonnette.
Captain Kai Steele lost the toss and Hornets had the honour of fielding first.
Bookham openers Brad Hazel and Adam Greenwood showed their intent taking 12 off Jeff Brown’s first over and then 18 off James Woodhead’s next.
Hornets were shell-shocked with the ball being blasted to all parts of the ground.
In the fourth over Woodhead bowled Greenwood for 28 but Bookham had cruised to 50 by this point.
Jeff Brown finally picked up Hazel (58) in the ninth over when Beau Abnett held onto a skidded caught in cover.
Hornets heads were down but captain Steele rallied the troops by taking off the pads and bowled himself.
He, Francois Alowishuss and Ben Brady were able to stem the run flow as well as well as picking up a further three wickets.
After 20 overs Bookham had reached 5 for 162.
In hot conditions young beau Abnett and Ewan Stewart were fantastic in the field.
Hornets’ openers Kai Steele and Kelvin Brown headed out thinking they had not much chance of winning but both openers took to the bowling and after six overs had got the score to 71.
However in the seventh over the heat had made Brown delirious as he danced down the wicket to Ross Armour missed and was promptly stumped for 38, scorers felt the distance he was down the pitch it should have been a run out!
Hornets then lost their way losing the wickets of Alowishuss (2), Steele (42) and Jeff Brown (12).
The miracle looked gone but cometh the man James Woodhead, he clubbed Mark Glover over the midwicket fence and followed up with a couple similar shots into the fence.
Woodhead was finally out for 32 leaving the final runs to be made by Scott Duncan (5), Paul Potts (5), Ben Brady (17 no) and Shane Abnett (3no).
The most unlikely victory achieved.
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VALE – NEVILLE BONNETTE: Bookham community lost one of its gentleman last week with the passing of Neville Bonnette. Mr Bonnette was a stalwart of the Bookham Cricket Club having played cricket there from the 1950s to the late 1980s.
A handy top order batsman he was also very generous with his time coaching junior cricket for many years.
Mr Bonnette continued to support the club by showing up to home games.
Mr Bonnette also left his legacy to the Cricket Club by being the architect and foreman for shifting the old Bookham school to its current site as the clubhouse at the Bookham Recreation Ground.
He was also one of the organisers that removed the massive hump out of current ground with the help of local farmers tractors and dozers.
A minute’s silence was held before the commencement of the game between Bookham and Harden to pay respect to Mr Bonnette.
Mr Bonnette’s son, David, played in the match.