With 2 debutants this week, what looked to be a decent batting line-up, and Riverside seemingly shorn of last season’s Asian contingent and down to 9, Graveney batted first, despite the pitch looking like one to bowl first on! A solid opening partnership of 57 between Barry Gray (33) and Nick Goodburn (45) set up the innings, but unfortunately the middle order fell cheaply, including debutant Pieter Boodt who does, however, look like he could be a useful bat going forwards. From 104-2, Nick’s dismissal led to Graveney falling to 116-7 before the innings was rescued by firstly Kev “Murali” McGill’s best ever score (and surely batting display) for Graveney (21), and then via some powerful striking from Tim eveleigh (41), who has surely now found his correct spot and role in the batting line-up. (Don’t argue Tim!)

After tea, the Riverside openers also got off to a good start with a partnership of 60 or so, despite decent opening spells from Jez, Tim Bunn, debutant Adrian Bingham, and Bruce Graham. However, it was the introduction of wily old campaigner Barry Gray (9-3-26-4) that did the trick, picking up 4 wickets in his first spell of 7 overs. Despite getting 6 wickets of the 8 required to win, Graveney could not dislodge the Riverside tail who held on stubbornly, if a little unadventurously, for the final 10 overs, all this despite Graveney’s best efforts with the ball and with their verbal attempts to entice some shots from the batsmen. If only they had played overs as we’d hoped!

There was also a decent turn out in the pub afterwards, and we hope we have kept the fixture despite Tim E’s insistence on telling the opposition skipper, repeatedly, his now infamous, but quite frankly incredibly dull “joke” about £40 for tea. (There Tim, it got a mention, so please, please, please let it die it’s death and never mention it again – remember there are some weeks when we have more than 11 available!) Ian, if you are reading this, our collective club apologies!