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Having wisely postponed the match from the previous Sunday when the weather was more in keeping with a wet and windy day in November, we re-convened on a warm and sunny Ascension bank holiday afternoon. The warmth was also evident from a human point of view since the game against Saint Brice had been organised to commemorate the tragic loss in a road accident in India last year of Nilesh, one of the members of CCSB95 whose efforts helped to establish our ground at Apremont.

In time-honoured fashion and in order to ensure that the match would last until the fabulous tea of curry and Indian delights provided by Saint Brice later in the day, Rob put CCSB95 in to bat. We welcomed Matt Gillett back from his shoulder injury incurred last season and he was put immediately back to work with Nick Clarke opening the attack. The batsmen were kept pretty much at bay during the first 4 overs which saw the fall of the first wicket – Chicknesh clean bowled by Nick the Vic. Rajani and Dipesh put on a good stand of 20 for the second wicket before Nick S caught Rajani at full stretch off Gillett. Homer kept the pressure on with a smart catch behind the wicket as Dipesh fell for one.

Ali had other ideas as he and Ketan combined to stop the rot and rack up some runs together. At the half way stage they had pushed the run rate up to nearly six an over in their partnership of 37 – broken as Patrick Clarke forced Ketan to pull one to Gillett in the deep with the total on 77 for 4. Ali followed somewhat controversially trapped “lbw” to Shepherd having achieved the high knock of the day of 30.Rakesh and the wily Jiten nudged and nurdled the ball around the ground keeping the scoring rate up above six an over. Shepherd finished his spell and Rakesh’s innings taking his off stump ending up with fine figures of 3 for 22. Tris and Charlie Hedley were introduced and their freshness helped to keep the pressure on the tail enders and each managed to secure a wicket as Saint Brice closed on 127 for 9 at the end of their 20 overs.