On the hottest day of the cricket season to date

With the toss back in favour, we made the decision to bat first on a very troublesome looking wicket!

Another change in the opening pairing this week saw Jack Betenson take up with challenge with regular Sam Athay back in the side. Together they made a very competent start to the game putting the pressure on the bowling side. Sam Athay, continuing where he left off adding 43 runs to his name for the day. After losing a couple of wickets, partnerships began to form with Adam Carlin remaining resolute at one end. Showing encouraging signs during a mid-week game, the runs began to flow for Adam with some excellent scoring all around the ground. Ending with 64 runs, a key knock that provided the anchor needed for the innings. Some power hitting at the end of the innings from Sam Bowery ending with 29 of 23 balls and Ollie Gooding hitting his only ball for 6, it was the cherry on top of the cake of another quality all-round batting performance. Finishing on 225-7, it was pressure on Bitton CC to bat on a fast-deteriorating pitch.

We took to the field, looking to keep our bowling plans simple and take full advantage of the condition of the wicket. Tom Henly back opening the bowling alongside Joel Parry, we were in the game from ball one. Runs were coming in the early overs for Bitton, however, both opening bowlers stuck to their task and we soon had the opposition 31-3. With an arsenal of bowling options at our disposal, pace off was the order of the day with Sam Athay, Sam Bowery and Louis Mancini backing up the openers with some very tight and economical bowling picking up a wicket apiece. With Ollie Gooding still to enter the attack and the run rate still ascending, the pressure proved too much. Picking up 3 more wickets giving Ollie a total of 15 so far for the season, which sees him joint top of the league table.

It was another great day of cricket with a fantastic team showing, set up by a strong batting display and finished off with a well-executed bowling and fielding performance. The consistency being shown by the squad is ever pleasing to see, this is being reflected in the team's results. Therefore, our continued rise up table sees us settling into 2nd place with our eyes only looking up. A tough opposition lie in wait this coming Saturday against Almondsbury CC, who we leapfrogged in the table this weekend. A strong week of focused training ahead ensures we'll be ready to host them at Combe Park, and so we look forward to what promises to be an exciting game of cricket!