The 3s started the season away to Bentley, captain Tim won the toss & fancied a bowl. 40 overs & 232 runs later, it had seemed like a long afternoon.
The game started well with Clarkie & Danny bowling well, despite Taite & his mate, Liam, turning up late as Taite's kit had disintegrated over the winter. The Bentley openers were never in any trouble until Clarkie found the edge & Tim took a regulation catch behind the stumps. In came the Bentley skipper & up went the run rate. John took over from Clarkie & Danny bowled through. The Bentley opener played nicely, but the skipper started to hammer any delivery that wasn't perfectly straight & on a good length. John managed to fool the opener that he could smash the ball for six, but it went straight to Jacob on the boundary for another wicket. The Bentley skipper continued with his hitting, then it was drinks. Olly had come on just before drinks & PQ joined him after drinks.
Olly spun one that fooled the number 4, who edged it into Tim's gloves, up onto his helmet & then into his gloves once more. The skipper continued, not bothered who was bowling. Tom came on & bowled some excellent deliveries, but still anything not perfect was hit hard. The skipper reached his 100 & a few balls later hammered the ball towards John, who defied sense & stuck his hands out, by luck more than bravery the ball stuck in his hands & the skipper fell for 111.
The young players from Bentley, all of whom looked to have good technique, started to be more aggressive, John picked up another wicket when Taite took a high catch, but some slogging at the end took them to 232-5.
Afetr tea John & Taite opened up. Taite faced first & after 10 ball he actually got one near him & managed to edge it to the keeper. After 12 balls the first over finished! Jacob came in & continued his good from from last week, but didn't manage to score many runs, despite defending well. John got an inside edge onto both pads, then the wickets. Tim & Jacob gave some air of respectability, by staying in. But, Tim eventually edged to the keeper, as did Tom & Olly. Nick managed to find a fielder, Taite's mate Liam swung with all his might only to be bowled, PQ missed a staight one & Danny was given out LBW by Tim.
Game over, all out for 76.
Definitely, not the start to the season that we all wanted. But, Bentley were far better in all areas of the game. Next week the 3s are at home to Chignal.
