Penn Street vs Bamville

Bamville 252-10 (F. Akbal 62*, D. Oliver 60; M. Bannister 5-51) drew with Penn Street 185-7 (M. Bannister 55*; J. Heyes 3-36)

Bamville are traditionally one of the stronger teams we face, with a number of very strong batsmen who are capable of taking the game away from you very quickly, so it was an interesting choice by Captain Matt Bannister to go for a time game.

Bamville started strongly despite Paul Goodchild and Nick Loftus bowling well, Goody especially getting a lot of life out of the pitch and discomfitting the betsmen. However the breakthrough didn't come until Matt brought himself on bowling his seamers and Harle knocked a sharp catch to the ever-reliable Goody at extra-cover.

However, with Simon Hennell bowling with all the luck of someone who had recently shot an albatross at the other end, it wasn't until he switched to spinners that Matt really started to test the batsmen. He was flighting the ball beautifully and once he had bowled the dangerous Kubair, and Oliver went to yet another superb catch from Mr G behind the stumps, he then ripped through Bamville's middle order.

Meanwhile, guest Australian Duggie Richmond Hill had borrowed Simon's luck, Jack Slade bowled with control and took a wicket, before Goodie and Nick Loftus returned and cleared out the lower order with ten minutes to spare before tea.

Duggie opened with Steve Smith, and when he produced a sumptuous on-drive it looked as if his high reputation was well-justified. But cricket can be a funny game - he overstretched to a very wide ball and was caught at point.

But Mark Gloyens and Tony Smart dug in, scoring steadily but finding it difficult to push the score along at the run-rate required. Mark looked really in the groove for his 36, Tony equalled his top score of 22, and Chris swung the bat for a swashbuckling 13. But the target was a long way off when Simon Hennell and Matt Bannister came together with 7 wickets down.

However, Matt was scoring freely, continuing his fine run of form, Simon had his head down and showing all his experience, and the opposition were gettng quite rattled, when Matt slashed at a wide one to extra cover. Dropped. Later that over, he slashed again - to the same fielder and dropped again.

That was the piece of luck we needed. Bamville threw everything at us in a cliffhanging finish, but Matt and Simon held on for a well-earned draw against a very good side, and Matt had accumulated another 50 to add to his 5-for. At least he wasn't out in the 90s. Yet another jug courtesy Mr B and long may they keep coming!!!

Man of the Match: M. Bannister