With many of the Melbourne regular players headed to Doncaster Racecourse to celebrate Paul Coes forthcoming wedding Melbourne CC travelled to second in the league Bishopthorpe with 9 men which included Nick Boyd and Joe Thompson making a welcome return. Melbourne won the toss and elected to bat with heavy clouds on the horizon but lost early wickets when James Coupland [2] was given out lbw off the bowling of Bindloss in the 5th over. Ben Thompson had also made 2 when he was bowled by Holmes the following over. However opener Ian Kirby made light work of any loose ball and had made 35 when the heavens opened and the covers went on after 14 overs. Following an hours break in which an early tea was taken play resumed on a wicket which now despite covers had several very wet areas. Bishopthorpe changed bowlers and combined with a wicket which now had very little in it snatched up two quick wickets - Kirby [35] out to a questionable lbw off the bowling of Seagar and Steels [18] bowled by Blackburn. Batting with Harry Collins, Nick Boyd who had made a good 11 was bowled by Seagar as the heavens once again opened and resulted in another 30 min delay. Play resumed another half hour later and Collins and Scott Coupland worked hard but Coupland [3] fell to a catch on the boundary by Davis off the bowling of Clapham in the 30th over. Joe Thompson had made 2 before he was stumped in the 31st over. Melbourne captain became Seagars 4th victim of the day when he was bowled to close the Melbourne innings in the 33rd over after making a very good 28. Callum Gregory finished on 0*. Melbourne making 107 off 33 overs - an innings which had taken over 4 hours thanks to the weather.
Bishopthorpe bowling: A Seagar 9.3-3-20-4, S Clapham 2-0-6-1, J Blackburn 7-1-21-1, A Bindloss 7-0-26-1, I Holmes 7-0-30-1
In reply the now 8 man Melbourne team as Ian Kirby departed due to work committments put everything they had into their bowling attack and this paid off in the 8th over when Scott Coupland dismissed Dale [19] lbw. Holmes [15] followed him back into the pavilion 2 overs later when he was bowled by James Coupland who also took another wicket - that of Seagar [2] who was caught by the keeper Oliver Steels in the 12th over. Youngster Callum Gregory bowled well and took the wicket of Davies [6] who he bowled in the 13th over however Clapham was in form and punished any loose ball . Victory came for Bishopthorpe in the 20th over as they reached 108-4 with Clapham finishing on 44* and Smith on 17*
Melbourne bowling: J Coupland 4-1-25-2, C Gregory 4-1-17-1, S Coupland 4-0-22-1
Many thanks to the match ball sponsor - Rossmoor Garage. Next week sees Melbourne at home to Kelfield - 2pm start