Beaten by the rain in Bowdon draw.

Why does it so often rain on a Saturday morning? Chucking it down and puddles forming on the outfield 2 hours before the scheduled start which made it obvious the game would be on. Cast iron certainty. Matt Griffiths back at the top of the order and George McCormick in to bolster the bowling ranks. Crucially on a spinning deck, no Fishy who was in his own isolation station (bloody COVID). Jack Yates returned after a few seasons away and raring to go with all the whitest kit and shiny pads.
The toss. Crucial on a wet day with the game reduced to 80 overs. So as Griff sauntered back to the changing room behind slumped shouldered batters, he explained that he hadn't lost the toss at all as he never had the chance to call. Sage captaincy that!
Matt Hodges was brilliant at Macclesfield and for the 3s in the t20 cup so off the back of 160 runs in two games opening, he was moved to number 3! Good move though as the skipper and Lee make a solid opening pair with their experience and left/right handedness.
We learned two things early on form the scorebox. Firstly, there's no such thing as a seagull. Secondly, that Hal Dwobeng who opens the bowling for Bowdon, is Lacrosse goalie for England. Who knew...we did eventually. He stormed in and got one to kiss the edge of Lee's bat to remove a key man for just 6 caught behind. Modge joined Griff with 10 for 3 and 100 for 1 equally likely. Thankfully both batters stuck to their gamelans which included not hitting catches or letting it hit the stumps. Griff's characteristic clips and drives to the fence on view once again as Modge made guiding it to 3rd man his signature shot. Good stuff and with 100 passed, Griff went. Bowled for 55 having shown yet again that application can win the day on the trickiest of tracks.
The middle order revolving door opened and spun. Too many times as Reg, Tommy and then Jack succumbed. Robinson was turning it and Shenkman bowled straight. Modge then bowled for a fine 60. Surely his place in the side is rubber stamped and assured for the foreseeable. Dan went too leaving Brayno and Sam to up the ante with Griff wanting to declare. They smacked it. Brayno's all round credentials are certainly impressing and his 21 showed his timing with the willow. Sam 16 not out and off. 38 overs and 191. Above par? Possibly. Chaseable? Definitely. So game on.
George out to warm up having gone for coco pops over Waitrose deli. Fred at the ready too. The rain was looming and Keggy was hovering but it stayed dry and things got going. The 3s returned victorious to watch and the glamour tent filled up at fine leg. Not with George and co but with young ladies watching Wimbledon.
George and Sam steamed in and a chance went down in the slips. No wickets as Atkinson picked up anything wayward. So Griff went to Dan. More cutters than swinging deliveries needed and a smart caught and bowled got things going. Brayno then took over from G Mac and removed Atkinson's middle pole. He was bowling so quick that the stump nearly left the ground. 'Wheels' is the given phrase I believe!
Dan then took another, bowling number 3 to bring up 500 2s wickets; decent effort that!
And then the first lot of rain fell. The covers on then immediately the rain abated and they were off again with little time and no overs gone. Dan replaced by Dicko and he struck immediately inducing Shenkman's edge which Fred accepted. He's said for years he'd be good with the ball in the 2s and he is. Very much so. Good fields and a bit of pace to get the ball swinging did for another. A good catch from Tommy who was having a lovely afternoon at fine-leg in front of the glamour tent before being hauled up to mid off.
George returned. He's a wholehearted cricketer is George and his efforts off the field bring him rewards on it. Being one of only 3 of the side at nets on Thursday, he'd worked hard and deserved his wicket here. He removed Hunt for 49 and threw the door to the tail open. Dwobeng played and missed 4 in a row then it rained again. A lot. Too much actually and the game was over as it was reaching a crescendo. Shame. 30 balls left and 4 good ones required or 50 runs depending on whose camp you were in.
Good game between two good teams but again no result as again Chester had batted hard to set up a chance.

MotM - Brayno for his all round display
DotD - Griff. On a wet day, you need to look after the groundsman. The skipper hurled one in the warm up which hit Keggy flush on the ankle.