BCC 2s vs Royal Ascot 2s

Going into the game placed first and second in the league, this was always going to be a big fixture for both teams. BCC boasted a very strong side with good availability across the club and felt confident before a ball had been bowled. Winning the toss, BCC elected to bowl on a pitch that looked like it would be assistive to the seam bowlers with overhead conditions likely to favour swing.

Jake Sunderland opened the innings with a good first over before DJ took the ball for the second over. 8 balls and 9 runs later (7 of which No Balls), DJ bowed out of the attack with a curious case of the yips! Funny for all of us except DJ...

George Whatling replaced DJ and him and Jake both bowled exception spells to restrict Ascot to 68-1 off 22 overs, with Sunderland claiming the first wicket caught behind. The introduction of Tony Roome, replacing Jake having arrived at the ground over half an hour after the start of play (turned up at the wrong ground, then got hopelessly lost trying to find the right ground!) yielded a very good wicket for BCC, caught at gully by Sunderland, just as their number 3 was looking set to score big.

Two further wickets fell quickly and Royal Ascot were looking shaky at 79-4 off 28 overs. A solid partnership between 4 and 6 was ended in an odd fashion - the batsman preventing a high catch being taken by crashing into BCC's keeper, only to play straight across the next ball and see his middle stump hit the floor. 111-5 off 37 and Bagshot well in control. The young Aussie at 6 played well for 37 but was finally dismissed by Tony Roome; the remaining batters did well to take Ascot to 167-8 from 52. Roomey the pick of the bowlers with 15-5-32-3, but a mammoth spell from Whatling returning a very respectable 16-7-44-2.

Bagshot's innings started with a good tempo, reaching 24-0 off the first three overs before a bowling change restored some control. Young was going well but Sutton departed for 7 in the 6th over, bringing Jem Davis to the crease. Young and Davis batted very well in testing conditions, putting on 78 for the second wicket before Davis was caught at mid off for a very well made 46. Deano joined Geoff and batted at a perfect pace to complete the run chase in 44.1 overs, a partnership of 63 with Young 73* and Dawson 26*.

25 points for BCC moves us to 107, with Reading 3s in second place on 96. BCC unbeaten in 5! Sonning next week who are placed 8th having managed two wins (Aldershot & Falkland) and three losses (Maidenhead, Boyne Hill & Bracknell).