Team Samways achieve valiant draw vs Team Singh

See Charlie's excellent summary of the opening game.

Sunday 12th July 2020 was a memorable day for village cricket, not just in Nuthurst, but throughout the country as play resumed following the delay to the season. The Coronavirus outbreak has changed our society and people’s expectations, so frequent breaks in play to clean hands, cleaning the ball, no tea’s, no umpires being loaded with hats and jumpers, the new ordinary.
Whilst the more muted celebrations at the fall of a wicket lack the exuberance of past seasons due to the current restrictions, the opportunity to return to the field of play was something that every player and spectator celebrated.
So a sunny, dry July afternoon, cricket returned to Nuthurst CC in front of the wonderful new pavilion. An inter-club game, Team Samways as Team Singh saw current players alongside young players of the future, who have moved up from the juniors contest a tightly fought match.
Team Singh batted first any early opening partnership of 31, faltered to 51 for 3 as Graham Prior and Keith Greenwood made early inroads. Raggy Singh and Stuart Balfour steadied the innings with a partnership of 118. Balfour retired having made 55 and Singh, dollied a catch to Samways having made 39. A quick fire 37 from Sherliker helped the score to 222.
Team Samways response saw a bright start as Willis and Jobanputra blunted James and “Kalpesh Juniours” early onslaught. Willis fell for an aggressive 55 and as the game started to wind down Jobanputra retired on 39 and South for 34, ensuring that the younger players had their chance to see the innings though to 171 for 9 and a competitive draw.
It was great to see the younger players coming through and they should congratulated on their performances. In addition enormous thanks have to be extended to Jonty for his hard work in keeping the ground so well and Jonny and the committee for finding a path through such uncertain times.