Blame it on Tonda! Half the Hursley Park team were due to board the Tonda Express to Wembley on Saturday, thus missing this match, until their plans were derailed and HP were able to field a full strength team. So were we actually, but at 16 for 4 after 6 overs it did not seem like it. Nav Dubey and Mike Haworth set about the rebuilding task painstakingly, and grafted away to put on 103 together. By the time Mikey went for a solid 53 off 102 balls, there were 12.2 overs left and Rich Wilson tried to up the pace but his fine strokes invariably found a fielder. At the other end Nav completed his first 2s 50, with surely many more to come. Nav eventually went for 75 off 131 balls, Rich was run out for 23, and at the end of 50 overs we were 179 for 9, which felt sub par.
Matt Haworth had one of their openers caught behind early on, but the second wicket pair took the HP score to 73 in the 16th over before being parted, Rich again taking the catch, this time off the younger Haworth. Skipper Alex Woolvine then had an lbw, and the door was ajar at 82 for 3. However, with England Men's Physical Disability team Will Flynn going for his shots at one end whilst his partner showed limpet like qualities at the other end (finishing on 42* off 131 balls, having opened the innings), HP were looking comfortable. Flynn eventually became Alex’s second victim for a run a ball 62 at 169 for 4, then with the scores level Sam Redhead took HP’s 5th wicket, but to no avail as HP cruised home to win with more than 5 overs to spare.