Brooklands CC, Cheshire 322 for 3 (34 overs) Tattenhall 201 all out (47.1 overs)
On a warm day in Brooklands, Tattenhall lost the toss and were made to field in the extreme heats. Charlie Dearling and Alan Brock opened up, keeping a tight line and length on a very dead track with little movement. The Brooklands' openers played some lovely cover drives which the bowlers could do little about, but the fielding performance was lethargic and unfocused, and runs flowed with ease.
A double bowling change saw Ben Pearce and Amir Afzal and Ben took the important first wicket. This brought in the Brooklands number 3, Kevin Carrol, who has already scored 800 runs this year. He started very quickly, but was dropped 3 times as Tattenhalls abject fielding was on display once again. He went past 50, 100 and 150 in no time at all, causing Tattenhall to lose all their spare balls in the houses surrounding the ground. Amir, Ryan Spann, Mohammed Umer and Ben Pearce bowled tight lines but with little movement it made it easy for there number 3 to dispatch the ball all over the ground, all though there was no elegance about the innings. The match almost became two separate games, with it looking even when he was not on strike, but him clubbing virtually every ball for 4 or 6 when on strike. Waqar Hassan came into the attack and took two wickets which prompted the Brooklands declaration on 322 after 34 overs leaving Tattenhall with 66 overs to bat.
Tattenhall started well with Sean Reeves and Umer playing some nice shots until Umer flicked one to square leg. Ben Pearce had a quick cameo scoring quick runs. A few quick wickets later with Reeves falling for 44. Ryan Spann and Freddie Cheshire putting a good partnership until Ryan fell for 19. In came the Charlie 'big dog' Dearling, with the game looking over and only batting points to play for. Sam Stratton and Dearling put on a 40 partnership taking the team to 199 with Dearling falling for 38. Brocky then took the team to the vital 200 runs for full batting points before the 10th wicket fell.
Carroll's innings surely makes a mockery of the ECB and Home Office rules regarding overseas players, the match turned into farce, as Carrol is clearly playing below his level and elevating what is a very mediocre Brooklands side otherwise. Clearly a game to forget for Tattenhall; but the lower order did well to reach 200. Surely the penny must drop soon regarding the fielding as they begin the second half of the season.