Stowting won the toss and chose to bat first. With a somewhat understrength bowling attack, we opened with Tom and Charlie White so that they could be brought back on to bowl later if necessary. Stowting’s opening partnership proved to be rather stubborn and they had posted 97 (at one time going at nearly 10 an over) when the 2nd bowling change made the breakthrough – step forward Kearnsy and Moxo. In his 3rd over he had their No. 2 caught behind on 48 and next ball had his replacement stumped, the hat trick ball was defended but it was now 97 for 2 off 15.
Cowlo now joined the attack but Stowting were scoring freely again. With the last ball of his 4th over Cowlo bowled the other opener for 59 – 130 for 3 off 20 – and the first ball of his 5th over had his replacement well caught on the boundary by Tom – 137 for 6 off 22 – again the hat trick ball was defended. The only other wicket to go was a run out by Cowlo and Stowting finished their 40 overs on 280 for 5.
Their total being a little out of our reach Moxo agreed with Stowting for our 4 colts to bat first, so we opened with Arthur and Toby Keets, Toby being stumped in the 3rd over – 8 for 1. Charlie joins Arthur and they add a further 16 and then Arthur is caught & bowled for 9 – 24 for 2 off 7, this brings Tom to the wicket and he’s off the mark with a single. This 3rd wicket pair add our 2nd highest total of 31 before Charlie is bowled for 18 – 55 for 3 off 13. Greenwall in next but unfortunately is run out for 8 – 74 for 4 off 17 and Cowlo goes for a 5-ball duck – 80 for 5 off 19 – will we see out the overs?
Moxo in at 6 and finally breaks his run of ducks but faces only 9 balls when he is caught for 6 – 92 for 6 off 23. Chris Fox joins Tom who is now on 22 and the score creeps along, boundaries being very scarce. Tom reaches 30 and passes his previous highest score for us of 34 then reaches 41 with a boundary but there are just 4 overs left, will he post his maiden 50? He makes it to 43 next over, then 44 in the 38th and 45 in the 39th, he’s on strike and with everybody willing him on for the last over defends the first 2 balls then runs a single off the 3rd, Fox gets a single to put Tom back on strike, another dot ball and then going for glory off the last ball ….. is caught and bowled on 46 and we finish on 147 for 7. A stellar performance from Tom and hopefully his maiden 50 will not be too long in coming.
