Match Report

The firsts made it two wins in a row and notched a firstleague scalp in a comprehensive rain affected victory at Manchester Road. By3pm most had given up on any cricket, but suddenly the rain desisted and thesun peeked through.

Sam won the toss and decided to bat first in what would be a24 over game. Caleb and Jack made a positive start with the overseas player inespecially good form at the moment, and when Jack fell in the 9th over, therewere already 64 on the board. A mini collapse saw Gareth, Sam and Ben gocheaply leaving the side on 84-4, but Jordy (18) stuck around with Caleb totake the score to 109-5 with seven overs still in the locker.

That brought Zach to the crease and, relishing his new role,he settled in with five singles off his first six balls before his firstboundary was registered. He then smashed thirty in just nine balls, including23 off professional Kalsi's last over, to finish with 36 not out off nineteenballs. At the other end Caleb had moved on to 78 not out off 66 balls, carryinghis bat through the innings which concluded on a challenging 168-5 at exactlyseven an over.

Egerton's reply started in the worst possible way withJoseph Whittaker falling first ball to Ollie's pace, but a partnership of 58 innine overs, briefly threatened to spoil the day. The introduction of Benchanged that with a wicket first ball after which wickets fell at regularintervals, culminating in Jason Whittaker emulating his son by falling to hisfirst ball (see pic) and leaving the visitors 73 runs short on 95 all out.

Only three bowlers were used with Ollie finishing with 4-44and Ben's 3-16 including three in three balls, sadly not a hat trick though asthe third was a well constructed run out courtesy of Ollie's arm. Egerton arenot the strongest team we will face, but six points on the board was mostwelcome after a shaky start to the season.