First game ends in defeat

On a sunny Sunday morning - remember those? - our first game of the season took place on the main ground at Stortford against a good High Roding team.

The visitors batted first and got off to a flier despite some good bowling from Sam Gardner and Chris Millns. Sam made the breakthrough, having Entwhistle caught behind for 8, new keeper Joe Hawkins snaffling the edge on his debut. Alec Chappell then came into the attack and swung the ball prodigiously, getting his reward when he managed to get a ball to hit the shoulder of Limrick's bat and take a simple return catch.

However, our fielding was shoddy with several run out chances going begging, and with a couple of half chances eluding our sleepy fielders. After a pep talk, the fielding improved, but Roding's total of 132 was 25 above par, with Chris Millns' excellent run out our only other wicket.

Alec's figures of 4-0-9-1 were excellent and he was unlucky not to get more wickets, while Charlie Finch also bowled a good spell. Adam Bassingthwaighte enjoyed his first bowl for the club and was unlucky not to get a wicket.

Our innings got off to a slow start as both Roding bowlers pitched the ball up on a slow track, with Limrick in particular bowling well. Alec departed, bowled round his legs, in the fifth over, and although Adam and Joe looked untroubled, they consistently picked out fielders with their shots. Adam fell LBW for 7, and when Niall Trimble and Joel Ellis both fell without scoring it became clear we would struggle to get close to High Roding's total.

Zac Izod looked the most fluent of our batsmen, making 12 in good time before wandering out of his crease and being stumped, and the remainder of the batting fizzled out to leave us well short. Joe Hawkins was unlucky to hit wicket for 15, our top score on the day.

Overall it was quite an enjoyable game and lovely to play cricket in the sun for the first time in ages. The boys will be better for their first match and I fully expect us to give High Roding a better game when we play them in the league.