Firsts start with big win

After a couple of false dawns, cricket finally got under way on a pleasant sunny day at Billesdon albeit the wicket and surrounds still retained damp from the downpours earlier in the week. Billesdon won the toss and ask C'thorpe to bat. Ben and Gaz looked confident but soon Ben was adjudged LBW the first of 5 in the afternoon

Will joined Gaz and played himself in, losing Gaz James and Tom in quick succession. Skipper Craig tried to halt the collapse but with no avail, Dave acquired one of the other LBW's and Dan slashed to extra as C'thorpe reeled at 83-7 Hayden joined Will and promptly planted his first ball over the hedge for 6 crisis, what crisis?

Will ticked over nicely but Hayden was in the zone, soon hitting Mitchell for 3 big maximums and picking up a couple more boundaries along the way. Will joined in and also hit Mitchell for 6 before Hayden turned his attention to Blackwell and Patel. Having gone in at number 9 Hayden reached the first 50 of the season with another maximum, before finding a fielder at deep extra cover who hung on to the chance. Hayden made 52 but he had changed the game in a partnership of 67 with Will. Thorpey was adjudged LBW but there were still 10 overs remaining when Joe Hawker joined Will

Batting sensibly they used the overs and gathered valuable runs, Will reaching a high class 50 in style by pulling Blackwell to deep square, and he wasn't finished there as 2 more boundaries took C'thorpe to 188 for 9 a score well past expectations at half way. Young Joe played a little gem of a knock frustrating the Billesdon bowlers, but Will can be mighty proud of his 60 without doubt his best innings for the club to date.

Thorpey and Joe ripped out Billesdon's top order, with only Harrison and Carter putting up any resistance. Thorpey tells me he took a worldy to dismiss Snaith, although I had it as LBW! I think it best to take Thorpeys' account!

Hayden joined the attack and bowled with pace, knocking over the tail, aided by 2 great catches by Dan behind the sticks, James bowled with accuracy however it wasn't long before Ben Sharpe finished the innings off with only his 2nd ball. A very satisfying win for the young C'thorpe first X1 hopefully the first of many through out the season.