On a warm yet overcast day Roehampton took on old friends, good neighbours and all round fab bunch of guys, Roehampton Bats. Cavs versus Bats.

Winning the toss, the Cavs skipper (controversially, it later turned out*) put the Bats in with a view of chasing a total with a clearly strong batting line up. The first battle was getting Hugh Gerlach - pleading lack of general fitness and a propensity to be walloped to the short boundary - to bowl up the hill. Hugh took the task and bowled magnificently with very few loose deliveries. His opening partner, Mo, also was very sharp with the Bats’ scoring restricted.

A bowling change: the Cav’s go-to first change bowler and own strongest critic, Stephen Broad stepped up. The Bats did use this opportunity to attack however over the course of his spell Stephen also picked up 2 vital wickets. With Fahad and then Dhilhan Hannan bowling well up the hill (and Dhilhan snagging more vital wickets) the Bats never got away from us and ended on 155 all out.

With such a talented batting line-up to call upon, one name stood out. Will Barnett was asked to open with Sacha and immediately showed that last week’s 41 was not an aberration. Anything short was brutally dispatched. Crucially, however, Will ran a 3 leaving an exhausted Sacha to play on next ball. The RCC colts policy does have its limitations

Step forward Henry Desch. Fitter than Sacha, Henry kept up with Will and powered his way to 48 with Will departing soon after for 63. However, with talent in the bank, Ejaz, Max and finally Mo finished the match.

Man of the match: in a crowded field, one man stood head and shoulders above the rest - step forward Dharmesh Varghela. Despite a brave 6 from 76 balls for the 1st XI yesterday he was forgotten as accolades were showered on players who reached double figures. Keen to play for the Cavs today he was cast aside … by his vice captain. And yet - and yet Dharms was on the sidelines cheering on the Cavs. A team man through and through. Respect geeza.

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