The Stragglers won the toss and elected to bat, the very real threat of heavy rain towards the end of the afternoon leading the two captains to agree to play a 30 over-a-=side match.
Wood and Hands opened the bowling for the Brigands; both bowled accurately and ensured that the Stragglers did not get off to a flier, Wood taking a wicket in his first over with an athletic caught-and-bowled. Indeed, all the bowlers used by captain Jake Peach bowled accurately and were well supported by tight fielding, led by Charlie Peach behind the stumps. As a result, the Brigands were able to restrict the run rate as wickets fell at regular intervals. Bath and Hands ended with two wickets a piece and Wood, Peach and Northwood each claimed one. The Stragglers total of 142 was competitive on a soft wicket and slow outfield.
Brigands’ openers Whittle and Jay made a confident start before Whittle was undone by a ball the rose sharply and was caught a short fine leg. A rain delay followed during which tea was taken and when play resumed Brigands found it increasingly difficult to step up the run rate without losing wickets. Eventually, a heavy downpour led to the match being abandoned at a point when the Stragglers seemed to be getting the upper hand. Adam Jay batted sensibly for his 21 in increasingly difficult light.
uggh ‘Sensibly’?? Surely ‘courageously’ or ‘bravely’ or even better ’explosively’?