Our 1st XI continued their strong start to the season as we won on the road for the second successive week at Bishops Castle.
The home side decided to bat first as Jon Mansell made an early breakthrough. JC bowled a top class opening spell before pulling up at the end of his fifth over with what initially looks to be a season ending injury. We didn’t manage to find the sniper hiding in the trees! Castle put on a decent third wicket partnership as their number 3 batsman finished on 102 not out. Will Davis and Ben Jones both picked up a wicket each and Campbell Naylor claimed 2 wickets in his first Condover bowling effort in 7 years after time away from the club. The home side reached 208-6 from their 40 overs.
Our reply didn’t start too well as we lost some early wickets as Andy Mottram hit a quickfire 22. The key partnership came for the fifth wicket as Jon Mansell came out to bat at number 5 on one leg. It was very much a heroic stand and deliver effort from Jon as he put on a century partnership alongside captain Charlie Rogers. JC smashed a game changing 68 before being caught and bowled ending a destructive innings. Charlie hit his fourth half century in a row and was looking to guide us home before being caught on the boundary for 53. In came Tony Preston (16 not out) and Ben Jones (24 not out) who in their typical crash, bang, wallop styles saw us home with an over to spare.
Next week we are back at home as we face Calverhall.
