First day blues as Loughborough top 300

Wade produced the breakthrough having Phil Lowe well held by Richo for a solid 22 Immediately after drinks Thorpy bowled Barr but Countesthorpe nemesis David Tew was building an innings

Tom Edwards made 28 before he was held by Luke off Ash, but uni student Greg Hollins cut loose smashing 68 from just 36 deliveries as Loughborough raced passed 250.

Skipper Wilson and Josh Winterton contributed, but the plaudits were for Tew who completed his second ton against Countesthorpe in under a year, a fine knock containing 11 fours and a six which ended when Gaz removed him to finish as top wicket taker. Loughborough's score of 304 for 6 looked imposing as C'thorpe set off in reply

Gaz started well hitting 3 crisp boundaries but Jamo departed LBW early on. Richo joined Gaz but Gaz edged Roberts to slip, Sooty went back to one which bowled him as Luke joined Richo who added 41 for the 4th wicket.

Richo was bowled and Luke was joined by Wade. Cautiously at first Wade accumulated as Luke was held at mid wicket, Jonny was bowled by one that jagged back and Steve was unlucky to be adjudged LBW. However as last year proved Thorpy is a man for a crisis and on joining Wade set about the bowling.

With batting points every 25 runs there was still a lot to play for as Wade found his range. Modha and Mir both went the distance as Wade headed toward a half century. With 15 runs needed from 2 overs to secure a fourth batting point, Wade took a liking to skipper Wilson's bowling taking 16 from the over.

In the final over Thorpy rotated the strike and Wade despatched the final ball of the game to long on to reach an excellent 50 Thorpy with 3 boundaries supported magnificently with his 21 undefeated and shared a 48 run partnership with Wade as C'thorpe finished on 182 for 7

With the new rules being used for the first time, it maybe that sides have not fully worked out the implications of the extra points for winning batting first, but it does beg the question, did Loughborough throw away 10 points by not declaring and using their extra overs to bowl C'thorpe out? Hypothetical but worth a chat over a beer!!