Third Team Register First Win

Our visitors won the toss and decided to bat in perfect conditions for making a big first innings score. The Wraysbury openers Pav Midha and Kam Hanif took the attack to our opening bowlers Ed Pike and Toby Seagrave. Despite bowling well, the runs flowed on an excellent batting wicket and electric outfield. The opening pair put on 126 in quick time before they were dismissed in successive overs. First spinner Sanjoy Bassi dismissed Hanif for 49 and the part time seamer Ali Partner dismissed Midha for 65.

After a shaky start, Bassi and Partner found their lines and lengths and for the first time this season, allowed the Third Team to have some control in the field. Both picked up three wickets as they removed the Wraysbury middle order and reduced their run-rate. Wraysbury’s number five Deep Singh smashed 52 towards the end of the innings as our visitors finished on 267-8 off their 45 overs which felt below par after their electric start.

The Third Team made a solid start in their reply but slipped from 36-0 to 43-3 as the top three of captain Bater, Robbie Grout and Benn Kempster. Ali Partner and Chris Curry (both pictured) started to rebuild the innings with some intelligent running and excellent strokeplay. The pair were very good at findings gaps in the field and turning ones into twos as the built a partnership which hopefully would result in a first victory of the summer.

As the overs passed, the strokeplay of the pair became more extravagant and pleasing on the eye. The partnership of 167 between the two was a season high for the Third Team with Curry and Partner both hitting 78. Unfortunately we slipped from 210-3 to 227-5 as they were both dismissed with 41 needed for victory.

Allrounders Sanjoy Bassi and Ed Pike batted with maturity beyond their years as they played some excellent strokes as they guided the Third Team to a four wicket win with eight balls remaining.