Season begins with Shenley stroll

On what turned out to be a pleasant May evening, we started our 2014 campaign with a routine victory against visitors missing their two best players.

Shenley batted first and were soon in trouble against the pace and movement of debutant Alex Portas and Sam Gardner. Gardner struck first with skipper Alec Chappell pouching a sharp catch at short extra cover to remove Fuller for 3. Portas then took a smart catch to remove Gosrani for a duck from Gardner's bowling. Chappell's throw ran out Patel, also for a duck, and Portas got the wicket his excellent spell deserved when he clean bowled Vance first ball.

The rest of the wickets were shared around, with Coby Miles and Ben Warman picking up two apiece, while Joe Burslem, Portas, again, and Adam Crowther took good catches.

Chasing only 50 to win, we lost an early wicket when Adam Bassingthwaighte was run out attempting an all run four, but Joe Burslem joined the impressive Elliot Needham at the crease and the pair took the score to 39. When Burslem fell, Joe Hawkins joined Needham, who took the side to victory with a pair of excellent shots to the cover boundary to finish unbeaten on 30.

Despite the young, inexperienced opposition, we bowled and fielded very well and batted purposefully. Tougher challenges await, but this was a strong start.