Marlow's 81-run win over Cookham Dean gives them a 'good platform' for tough season

Phil Lines.

--

Marlow captain Phil Lines believes his newly promoted side have given themselves a platform from which to build this season after a thoroughly merited 81-run victory over Cookham Dean in Saturday's TVL Division 1 curtain raiser.

Having been promoted from Division 2A last season, you may think Marlow's ambitions this season would be modest, however, the strength of their all-round display on Saturday would suggest they can set their targets a little higher.

Certainly, Cookham Dean were heading into the campaign believing they could mix it with the league's best and challenge for promotion, so why can't Marlow.

However, while Lines believes Saturday's win will be an excellent confidence boost for the players and could lay the platform for a very decent season, he knows they'll have to perform to a similarly high level in all their matches if they're to prosper in a division he rates as being significantly harder than the one they were promoted out of last summer.

Having been put into bat on Saturday, they began well at the crease with Jonathan Pears (34) and their new overseas, Harvey Brennan (68) putting on a second wicket stand of 95 runs. However, it was the middle order partnership of Chris Goede (68) and Hamza Arif (60) that really put the visitors under pressure when they came out to bat. Chasing 291-8, they more than felt that pressure, collapsing from 70-1 to 97-7 thanks to a spell of bowling from Ibrahim Zafar (2-24) and Pete Dickenson (3-45) that put the home side in firm control. Dean persisted with Zain Khan finishing with an unbeaten half century, but by that stage it was a case of damage limitation.

Reflecting on an excellent opening day, Lines said: “Yeah, we played very well. We batted well, we put together a few good partnerships, which helped. And even though they got away a bit with the bat to start with 50-0 off five overs.

“We bowled ourselves back into the game. A very good performance from us in the end.

“There were a few key moments. A good all-round display, but the partnership between Chris Goede and Hamza Arif, they put on about 100.

“It was a very good partnership and it helped get us up to a very good total which always applies pressure to the chasing team. Then a great spell of bowling from Immy Safar and Pete Dickenson saw wickets eventually come. We managed to control the game and take quite a few wickets. That broke the back of it.”

This Saturday they face another of the promoted sides in Reading, who also began the season with a very impressive 78-run win at Eversley - a team Lines has tipped to do well this summer.

Looking ahead to that, the captain added: “They were promoted from Division 2B last year. It's a fellow promoted side so it will be good to test ourselves against them. Winning games early on and giving yourself a good platform is crucial to having a good season. As well as winning the tight games.

“That’s what got us over the line last year, winning those tight games and it’s something we’ll be concentrating on doing again this year, winning the games that go down to the wire. They can make or break your season.

“We’ve made a few signings. A new overseas, Harvey Brennan, played at a high level in Australia. Looks like he’ll score a load of runs. Hamza (Arif), an all-rounder, and a good needle bowler and can bat anywhere. Ibby (Ibrahim Zafar) is a fast bowler. We’ve brought in five or six. We’ve freshened up the squad but have a young and very enthusiastic side.

“Our aims are to win as many games as possible.

“To go as deep into games as we possibly can and see where it takes us.”

On the task ahead of them this summer, he added: “There’s a big difference between Division 1 and Division 2A. Division 1 there’s a big jump. Every team in Division 1 is a very good side and you can’t underestimate anyone. We’re going to have to play well every week to do well in the league. We’ll need consistency and it will be tough because there are some good teams. You look at the likes of Eversley, they’re always towards the top of the table and there are many other good sides.

“It’s a confidence boost for the team going forward. We were missing an opening bowler, and we had a couple of niggles throughout the game as well, so to get the win with those injuries bodes very well for us.”