First XI 100% record continues

Words: Jono Robinson

This week the 1st took on Worplesdon & Burpham CC away. Shockingly we arrived on time, some of us taking 2 hours to get there. Good effort.

There were a few of changes to the team, with Fahad Hasan, Rosco and Joe Purnell coming in.

Dharms lost the toss and we were sent in to field. Umer and Mo set about their task with the new ball. For the first time this season the batsman were keen to get on top straight away, and quickly got to 28. But both bowlers stuck to their plans and with decisive field placements by the skipper(s) (old habits die hard Rosco), Mo was able to strike - the first of his four. Mo was backed up ably by Umer, not giving many freebies, sharing 5 wickets in their spell.

Enter Max. Who started with 8 runs in his first three balls. Turned out to be warm ups. As he ended with 5/13. He was helped out by good hands in the field, with a catch that could make the ‘catch of the season’ shortlist from JP. JP provided his economical off spin bowling. With both bowlers having to work harder to get the last 3 wickets as the batsman showed resolve. One or two drops aided this. One sitter to JR, one extremely difficult one to Joe. To be fair on the rest of the team the fielding was outstanding yet again.

With the innings wrapped up and chasing 100, Saqib and David opened. Unfortunately both didn’t trouble the scores. Playing across the line proved fatal on that track. Max and JP batted very well to negotiate what was arguably the best bowling we faced this season. They got us to 70 odd, before JP (41) was tempted to give catching practice. Max then found the middle of the bat, with two successive boundaries, before an attempted pull resulted in his wicket. Rosco and Purnell steered the team over the line with positive, yet watchful batting.

Yet another clinical performance, well done lads.

Man of the match - Max Huntley