Season kicks off in sunshine

What a way to start the season. A hot sunny day, 15 to select from and liberal doses of hay fever abounding. Doesn't get much better than that!

In addition to that, there was the unusual smell of testosterone in the air as we took the field with 8 players below the age of 30 and most under 25. Only Ian, Ed and I failed to qualify in that respect. Hopes that this might improve the fielding were unfounded as six catches were subsequently grounded

Temple Sheen won the toss and elected to bat, always a sign of confidence. This appeared to be severely misplaced as Matt bowled the opening batsman 2nd ball with one that just trickled back onto the stumps, Jordyn from the other end repeated the feat in the 2nd over and Matt did the same again in the 3rd over. At 1 for 3, the Temple Sheen innings was in tatters. However, some slow but determined batting , aided by the afore mentioned poor catching, took the score to 53 before the next wicket fell and a hard hitting 55 from the opposition Captain brought respectability as they crept up to 159 for 8 and declared at tea. Matt and Jordyn each came back for a late spell and picked up a wicket, Toby after a wayward start settled down and finished with a wicket as did Ian. The biggest cheer of the day however went to Jacob Nizzola, playing his first ever game of cricket, when he took his wicket during a very respectable 5 over spell.

Our reply began badly with Jordyn skying a pull shot with score at 5. Nick and Ed, in contrasting styles took the score along to 52 before Nick holed out at long off for 28. Alex never looked comfortable before doing exactly the same for 4 and I repeated the error to long on after making 10. At 85 for 4 we were rocking but Ed steadied the ship and with a number of little partnerships, first with debutant Joel Breen (9), Alex McGuffie (13) and finally Jacob Nizzola (8no), He steered us home with a fine 61no.