Gerrards Cross 2nd XI vs Bagshot 1st XI

We travelled to our first league game in Level three after 5 seasons in level 2, and after a very positive team meeting in the week we arrived in good spirits and hoping for a positive start.
Toss lost, we were asked to field first, and after 3 weeks of friendlies in arctic temperatures it was nice to play in short sleeves!!

Will and I opened the bowling, but were unable to make any inroads early on, but the score was kept tight too - a bit cagey at the start. Once the opener was eventually run out with the score on 28, it brought captain Hunt to the crease, who when joined by Brown at the fall of the second wicket, put on a 102 run stand in quick time, all of the bowlers suffering a bit after I wisely removed myself from the attack after 7 overs into the wind!!

Brown fell for 67 lbw to Will, and we introduced young Brad Passfield on debut, who bowled with superb control considering the way the opposition were hitting the ball, and took a very fine 4 wickets from 11 overs, including Captain Hunt who played a nice innings of 104.
Jake Sunderland our other debutant picked up a couple of late wickets with his very hard to pick slower balls, in the last over the batsman almost fell over twice swinging so hard and early as he completely misjudged the deliveries.

Gerrards Cross declared on 254-9 after 48 overs, a lovely batting wicket we resumed after tea hopeful of a good chase.

Sadly for us our old failings of being caught in the ring playing shots we shouldn't resurfaced, and we quickly found ourselves 56-5 with three wickets falling in one remarkable over. Andy joined Willow and settled things down for an hour or so with a solid 60 run partnership, before Andy fell to a strange dismissal, Willow falling for a well made 56, 118-8 was not what we anticipated at tea.
Will and Adam decided attack was the best form of defence and put on a partnership of 81 with both playing fine innings, Adam last man out with 9 balls to spare for 38, Will played out last 3 of penultimate over which left me to safely negotiate the last over to secure a hard fought draw. Will not out for 32.

8 points was all we received, and probably deserved, back to the drawing board for two consecutive home games.

MOM on debut Brad Passfield, very encouraging for the future.
Finally, Gerrards Cross was a lovely place to play, nice wicket and setting.