Chester BHCC Blazers Over 40s v Upton Over 40s

A lovely summer's evening greeted the players at Filkins Lane and a good looking track on the back pitch. Due to some last minute team changes, Jude Chaminda was guest captain for the evening and his first job went well, winning the toss and deciding to bat.

His second job of selecting the batting order raised a few eyebrows, with former skipper Dave Atkin being instructed to open with the new supremo. However, things went surprisingly well, with both Jude and Atko finding boundaries easy to come by and set off at a heavy pace. The new skipper first to go for 22, which brought Atif to the crease who looked in destructive form. Atko retired on 31, much to the surprise of himself and everyone else, soon followed by Atif (35*). Eddie and Raj kept things ticking along and then Seamus smashed a 14-ball 32* to leave CBH well on top. Then we had a massive collapse, with 4 wickets falling to Rich Battersby plus a run out and the innings ground to a halt at 171 in the 18th over.

Steve Ogilby opened the bowling (something to do with sponsoring the new skipper's new gear) and had immediate success with 2 wickets in his first 2 overs, but the league's leading run scorer Darren Warburton was at the other end and going well and there were plenty of gaps as we had 2 slips and a gully at one point. When he retired on 33, Andy Beacher strode in and smashed a very good 35. A couple of wickets for Chappers and Wayne in the middle swung things back Chester's way, but a rapid 31* from Ian Sharrock kept Upton well up with the rate. Despite not taking a wicket, Ashraf bowled really well and when the new skipper was looking around for someone to finish off the bowling with 28 needed off the last 4 overs, up stepped Ian Boothroyd to keep it just tight enough at one end. 10 required off the last to be bowled by Seamus. A dot and then the crucial wicket of Battersby, caught in the deep by Eddie for 25 saw the Upton innings close on 168 and the Blazers sneak home by just 3 runs. A cracking game!

Dinner and beers afterwards with new fines master Mr. Ogilby in the box seat. Fishy joined on Facetime (fine) and Jude resigned as captain (application rejected). An eventful evening.

MOTM - Atif
DOTD - Graham Hayward (nearly getting timed out, batting with his thigh pad on the outside of his whites and being hit for the first 6 of his career... and the 2nd in the same over).