Winning Start for 3XI

Dave Fisher started his 3rd stint as 3XI captain travelling to Barnton on a glorious day armed with a very strong side which included the Metcalf duo and star Batsmen from 2018 Matt Hodges.

Fishy lost the toss and Boughton Hall were invited to have a bowl.

The familiar partnership of Dave Fisher and Ben Harvey got proceedings under way and Fishy was unlucky not to get a wicket with the very first ball of the season, "just going down leg" was the call!
Anyway it didn't take long for Ben Harvey to strike gaining his first wicket of the season in thesecond over dismissing opener Burrage without troubling the scoreboard cleaning up his stumps.
Fishy and Harvey kept plugging away and kept things tight, Morley and Batra started to build a partnership before the latter was Harvey's next victim, caught slip by Ben Spaven for 30.
Lang came to the crease and was dismissed shortly afterwards to be Harvey's 3rd victim with a smart catch from Foxy in at cover point.
Fishy came off without reward and replaced with Maddocks who had obviously been netting in the winter with Bob Knight, albeit Joe was a bit slower.
Harvey was replaced by young Will Fisher after a fine opening spell of 11 overs 3-39.
Tasca and Morley continued to build a steady partneshership and the latter passed 50 whilst his partner at the other end was having countless chances gifted to him by the Chester fielding team, 6 dropped catches for Tasca who continued to pile of the runs.
Cottrell came on for Maddocks and got the important breakthrough getting skipper Morely bowled for a decent 55.
Tasca continued to be dropped and would eventually finish not out for 77 and riddled with plenty of chances.
Barnton closed on 205 - 4 off their 45.

After Chester enjoyed some large sausages at lunch they set about the task which was easily attainable with such strength and depth in their batting line up.

Spaven and Hodges opened up and started patiently ticking the scoreboard over and seeing off the openers before destructive Spavo decided to pick up the pace.
Hodges and Spavo were giving very little away to the fielding side as both passed their 50s and Spaven kicked on smashing the ball to various parts of the ground.
At 162-0 the crowd were getting excited for a 10 wicket victory but alas that was not to be as Spaven fell for a magnificent 95 snicking off to the keeper from skipper Morley's tight bowling.
George Metcalf came and went ("bowled by the wrong'un") and that gave way for Senior Pro Ian Metcalf.
Although plenty of wickets in hand scoring became tricky and with 3 overs left there were whispers of "surely not a draw" - word must have made way to Hodges with scores level on 205 and 12 balls left, Hodges creamed the ball for 4 through backward point taking Chester over the line for a fine 8 wicket victory and finishing not out on 83.

Great start for the 3s with maximum points and some fine individual performances.

MoTM - Ben Spaven

3s Entertain Appleton at home next in the league