3s Complete Victory After Wobble

A great game to start the season for the 3s as they overcame a tricky Dulwich side at St Albans Road.

Toby Briggs nearly blew the top order away with a swift spell of 10 overs, 6 maidens, 3-19, in conjunction with Simon Wickham, who reined in the other end with 1-20 off 7 to keep the pressure up.

At 28-4 Dulwich were in real trouble, but Matt Balch and captain Andy Bailey mounted a tremendous fightback. Both batted very well in putting in a 111 run partnership, but Balch lost his head once he got his 50 and walked down the track to Nick Rotsey and skied a top edge, which was easily taken by the keeper, Michael Ramsden.

After that, wickets fell regularly and runs dried up, with Rotsey finishing with 4-45 and James Brickley 2-7 at the other end - Dulwich 163 ao.

Reigate's response started similarly difficultly, with only opener Jon Smith making it above 20 in the top six, largely thanks to some top quality bowling from the Dulwich openers and first change.

But we have Toby Briggs.

Toby, with a mixture of blocking and bombs, hit 53 off 55 to get Priory from 56-5 to 125-7, ably supported by the fearless Wilbur Tiley.

When Briggs was caught on the just within the boundary, there were a few nerves from the other side of the boundary, but 12 off one over from the cool-headed Tiley and similarly bold batting from debutant Christian Burgess saw the game wrapped up with plenty of overs to spare, Tiley finishing on 28*.