Metcalf Magic sets up winning start

The cricket season proper finally rolled in to action at the end of July. The fact that competitive cricket will take place in the curtailed 8 week season is fantastic. The default being two t20s seems crazy. Thankfully Andy Newton sees sense and agreed this game was to be a 45 over affair eventually reduced to 40: good old British weather.
The Chester side was 10 fo the 12 man squad from the t20 finals day plus new signing Matty Jones. Wiggy and Noah promoted to the first team having starred in the double winning campaign of 2019.
Dan won the toss and despite the green tinge and the cloudy skies chose to bat: runs on the board without the pressure to dismiss the opposition. The new format threw up plenty of talking points, thankfully Griff's LBW for 10 early on wasn't one as he was plumb! Matty Jones was watchful and set his stall out to bat the 40 overs by nudging singles and rotating the strike with Luke Ramsay. It was tough as Nantwich bowled tightly and the outfield was super slow.
The first 20 overs yielded a mere 78 runs but crucially the bigger hitters were prowling around the changing room. Luke succumbed to the young off spinner thus ending a 78 run partnership. Andy Metcalf - the player of the year last season - strode to the middle swearing to himself and not looking to make friends. HIs pre-season form best described as low scoring. However he quickly set about dismantling the bowling and made a mockery of the boundaries as he found the fence seemingly with ease.
When Matty fell for an excellent 48 LBW trying to push the score on, Ben Spaven joined Metcalf to embark on the crucial partnership of the innings. Spavo is nothing in not talented with the bat and he just needs a couple of scores. He was off the mark second ball with a straight 6 into the cemetery! They took the score from just above par to very respectable in no time. Spavo (25) succumbed and Reg Wyatt strode out intending to give Metcalf the strike. He did. Reg ramped the last two balls to the fence to finish 18 not out but Andy Metcalf's undefeated 64 was the highlight having been perfectly set up by Luke and Matty. 222 seemed eminently defendable.
No teas. Straight round.
Weather circling and crazy scores coming in from Chester it seemed anything could happen and Andy Newton took the game very close last year with excellent stroke play. A couple of early ones would settle nerves. Matty Brayne and Reg bowled well but 4s came as the field was up because it's the rules! Brayno took one before Dan and Fishy joined up again, spread the field and looked to lay anchor to the scoring rate with thunder storms brewing out West. That's what they did. Despite being just behind where Chester were at 20 overs, it seemed unlikely that an innings of substance a la Metcalf would happen. Patterson tried his best bt was eventually bowled by the skipper for a well made 62. Reggie and Brayno returned and kept things tight with the field out. Whereas Chester struck seven 6s, Nantwich hit 0. Reg took two wickets including a marvellous (juggled) caught and bowled and the game petered out as Chester won by 36 runs. Matty Jones added to his batting display with 8 overs of off-spin with a ball resembling a bar of soap! Very good debut.

MotM - Andy Metcalf for his sparkling innings
DotD - Matt Griffiths for something so menial it slips the mind!