The contrasts of our bizarre climate were no more evident than Saturday, as the warm, sunny conditions of the first week of the season were replaced with, rain, cold and wind.

The 2nds had a long wait before the inevitable happened and the game was called off. The only entertainment was the attempt to para glide with the covers. 3 points picked up for the privilege of sitting around for 3 hours.

The 1sts made what was probably the longest away trip of the season to Bilton in Harrogate. Play looked distinctly unlikely as we arrived at a rain sodden ground, with standing water around the boundary and on the square. Hope was not lost and tea was taken early. This was the best part of the day. Bilton have a reputation for grand teas (Not Betty's teas) and they weren't a let down. It did occur to us after a while that we might actually have to play cricket and stop filling our boots with food.

Full credit to all involved with the game that we patiently waited for things to dry out, as the umpires decided that we could get a 20 overs a side game in, the minimum allowed. The large ground had dried well enough for us to start just before 4pm. A 20 overs a side game was going to bring a new dynamic and we bowled first against a side still smarting from being 63 all out the previous week. They got off to the proverbial flyer. 91 for 1 off 10 overs. We did peg them back really well to restrict them to 140 for 7 and bagged 3 points.

Batting second, we probably got the worst of the wicket as the odd shower blew in. Shayan got his second 26 of the season. Wickets fell regularly and we decided that getting to the target was a forlorn hope, but getting to 100 and gaining another point was the aim. Sykesy with 24 not out and young Rohan with 11 not out, sensibly guided us to 108 for 7.

Rohan Ratnalingham (13 years old) was making his 1st team debut. He was proudly congratulated before the game by our Chairman Nick Boyes. As the picture shows. Rohan is a product of our current Junior set up and is very much part of the future of the club. He was in the side on merit. He bowled nicely at first change and batted with maturity. His first ball was clipped through midwicket/square leg for 4 with imperious ease and class. He took a decent catch too, fully meriting his selection.

Although defeat was disappointing, we did end up getting one more point than if we had been called off. A 20 overs a side game after sitting around for hours in the cold was always going to be a bit of a lottery. The belligerent 65 by experienced Bilton opener Paul Cannings was the difference between the sides. We do still reside in third place in the table though.

Onwards and upwards for this Saturday. Particularly upwards for the 2nds who travel to Thackley. It is lovely over there but the ground is rather unusual in that one side is typically Yorkshire with a stone wall boundary and the other side is like the north face of the Eiger.

The 1sts are at home to Pool 2nds. It looks like all but one of the 1st team from Saturday are available, plus the players who were missing from last week. Plenty of players back for the 2nds too. We have not had this sort of availability since rationing ended. Selection meetings are hotter than the sun...........