Sunbury (A)

Scorecard

A big win against Sunbury for the 3rd XI.

Batting first on the first sunny Saturday of the season was what we wanted to do, and after Fraser MacDonald fell early, partnerships of 40 and 57 between David Loft and Matt Packham and then Loft and Nick Rotsey (27) set up the side for a decent first inning total.

Loft was caught out for 55, and Rob Wood (45) and Mike Ramsden (29) took over the baton of responsibility, plundering 76 for the fifth wicket and taking the team up to just short of 200 with a couple of overs to go.

Shabbir Mookhtiar and Irfan Hameed scrambled and edged their way through the last couple of overs, taking the team up to 219 off the 50. A competitive score, but knowing that Sunbury put 269 on against us last year and recognising one or two of the tormentors, Priory knew that a disciplined bowling performance would be necessary.

Sunbury came out blazing from one end, young opener Jack Southby looking to go big or go back inside to sweat out his hangover.

Despite the wicket of the other opener, Sunbury had made it to 42 in quick time. The key wicket of Southby came as Mookhtiar pulled back his length a little and the batsman couldn't resist the pull, top edging it high in the air, and with the fielders hushed, Shabbir took an assured catch in the middle if the wicket.

Sunbury kept on with the aggressive play, with the captain Curt Higgins and Matthew Golding taking their chances off both the good and bad balls that came their way.

Sunbury were above the rate, with wickets in hand at 88-2, and should probably have knocked it around the field for the next ten overs for the ones an twos, but with Higgins injured and unable to run, and Golding seeking to demoralise the bowlers, this opportunity was not taken.

Instead Sunbury continued to try to bludgeon and, sure enough, Golding picked out Brickley at mid on for his 236th catch in that position (although 398 dropped), and Higgins edged to the keeper MacDonald - both off Hameed - leaving their one remaining batsman with a long tail to shepherd.

Brickley had introduced himself to the attack in the 17th over and was giving little away and getting increasingly alarming swing, but it wasn't until Rotsey came into the attack after drinks that wickets started tumbling.

Rotsey was swinging it away from the right-handers with his left-arm round the wicket bamboozlers, and Brickley was bringing it back into them, and the pace of the run chase slowed dramatically. Rotsey picked up two wickets soon after he came on, including the last remaining threat, Simon Young, to a great catch from Irfan Hameed, and then Brickley cleaned up three in quick succession, spearing in the inswinging yorkers.

Rotsey took the final wicket LBW to cap off a great performance from him with bat and ball, and give Priory the bonus point win.

Champagne moment: Irfan's catch at mid-on. The batsman smacked it hard and flat, and Irfan nonchalantly stuck his right arm up and caught it like it was nothing, while everyone's heads had turned to the boundary behind him.