After much uncertainty about whether our game could go ahead due to rain, we did eventually make it out on to the pitch at St Cross in what turned out to be a very sunny evening! In a new-look team, George Steen and Yusuf Malik made their first appearances for the A team.

St Cross batted first and openers James and Bodie took contrasting approaches to get St Cross off to a solid start – Bodie with a swift 15 off 17 balls and James anchoring the innings with a steady 14 off 27, before both were caught. Aditya and Ben then built on this foundation with a flurry of boundaries, with both batsmen retiring (Aditya 27* off 20 balls & Ben 25* off 18 balls), with Ben finishing off with a huge six over mid wicket. Nat, Hari, Yusuf and George added useful lower order runs to ensure we finished our 20 overs with a very respectable total of 131-4.

A rapid turn around was required due to the setting sun and a steady fall of wickets through the Compton & Chandlers Ford innings meant that the opposition were bowled out for 100 in 15 overs, giving us victory by 31 runs. Ben took 1 wicket, had 2 catches and a run out for a solid display in the field. Special mention also to George for two wickets and a catch and also to Bodie for two superb catches in the deep towards the end of the game, in the fading light – brilliant stuff! Hari also picked up 2 wickets, so all in all it was a great all-round performance. The adage ‘catches win matches’ was very apparent today!

Many thanks to Nick for umpiring both innings as well. Until next time…!