A flying start to the season for the 1's with a convincing win at Coronation Park against a Springfield side whom many have tipped to make up for their relegation last season after being deducted points.
New captain Jamie Walton lost the toss and had to put the side out to field on a bright spring day which was not as warm as the metrological office had anticipated. Conceding 20 extras in the first five overs was not the ideal start, but the opening bowlers started to find their line and length and success was finally achieved at the end of the seventh over with the fall of the first wicket to Tom Arnold. The second wicket was to fall with his next ball, bowled at the start of the ninth over to have Springfield at 36-2. A lower score could have have them on the back foot, but a partnership of 80, based on some rearguard action and wayward fielding started to put them back into the game.
The arrival of Dan Green broke the partnership, trapping the batsman LBW with his first delivery. He then caught and bowled their captain and top scorer (59) in his fourth over, and from then, their batsmen seemed to struggle as they went from 145-3 to 192-9. A defiant 29-run partnership for the last wicket kept the players out until the final over of the innings, but 221 didn't look anywhere like near enough on a pitch that offered plenty of runs. Despite three wickets each for Dan and Tom, 43 extras were included in their total, including 30 wides! We cannot afford to be that generous.
Theo Robinson and Sam Bear opened the batting and batted beautifully, not giving them a sniff before the drinks break as they put on 145 in the first 25 overs. However, it only took four balls after the break for the first wicket to fall, as Theo was caught on the boundary for a well crafted 59. In came Sarthak Kohli for his league debut, and the former Epping batsman looked unfazed by the bowlers that he faced. He and Sam put on 42 for the second wicket with Sam hampered by cramp, trying to score boundaries to conserve his failing energy. He too was caught on the boundary, eight short of his maiden adult century. A brief cameo by Will Howard brought in Tom Arnold, and he and Sarthak saw the team home with over eight overs to spare.
Bowling and fielding will need to be better, but a promising start to the campaign. Our first home game is against Oakfield Parkonians, who gave us an absolute whipping at theirs towards the end of last season. Should be a good game................
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