Saturday 15th August

1st XI away at Kimberley CC 3rd XI -  Lost by 5 Wickets

  

A  stunning game at Kimberley ended with a frustrating and disappointing result, but also a game with a massive, memorable personal performance from skipper Adam James.

On a wicket that looked impossible to predict how it would play, we elected to bat first.  A steady start was then followed by the second best second wicket partnership for the 1st XI.  Adam James and Callum Gilbert hit exactly 200 runs; just 2 runs behind the best ever.  Adam James also achieved his first century in hitting 111 runs with 13 4s and 2 6s.  Towards the end of the innings Callum Gilbert fell just 14 runs short of a century, his 86 contained 10 4s and one 6.  The team's score of 292 for 5 was the third highest recorded, just 19 behind the highest.

Kimberley's reply to such a challenging target was perfectly put together.  They never allowed the required run rate to escalate beyond 8 an over and lost only 5 wickets before taking a quick single to win the game with just 2 balls to spare; two balls more than when Kimberley won last year!

Bad luck with the loss but what a great game to watch.

  

2nd XI at home to Ellerslie CC 3rd XI -  Lost by 115 Runs

 

A really tough game for the 2s with the visitors hitting 317 for 9 wickets from their 40 overs with 7 of our bowlers claiming at least one wicket.

The reply saw us slip to 53 for 5 wickets before some late runs secured the full batting bonus points in reaching just over 200.  Callum Vanderwalt hit 24 in just his third game for the team, Daniel Brown reached 50 with 11 4s and there was some rapid run scoring from Ethan Riddle 28 off 21 balls and Neil Gelder 39 off 32. 

Certainly plenty to be pleased with despite the loss.

 

  

 

One other striking thing about the two games was the aggregate score for our teams and both oppositions. An astonishing 1,104 runs were scored, easily overtaking the previous highest of 946 on June 4th 2022 against Notts Unity Casuals and Claypole.

For reference the highest second wicket partnership was between Nick Proverbs and Shakeel Taj at home to Farndon in 2022.

The highest score for the 1s of 311 was put together way back in July 1998 against Farndon at the Badger Sett, with Steve Weightman hitting a hundred.