Spectacular collapse overshadows encouraging performance

For long periods of the game Cavalier Seconds were well in this contest with cup winners Gosfield until the game finished abruptly in the 30th over of the chase. Cavs lost their last 4 wickets for no runs in one over leaving a bewildered Dan Smith stranded on 25 not out wondering "what just happened?" Serial not out merchant Tony was unable to add to his 92 previous unbeaten innings when he was the unlucky 3rd victim of a hat-trick that finished off the innings in an unseemly hurry.

Earlier a decent bowling performance restricted Gosfield to 179 despite managing only 4 wickets. Jon W and James Bardell, one of the 3 debutantes, produced good opening spells keeping the openers to 3 an over. First change & fellow debutante "Sid" Palamarri continued the good bowling in spite of struggling with his run up into the wind but it was left to spin twins Dan S and Tony to begin to chip away at the top order. Is Greg Moncrieff the newest golden arm in the club? His variations quickly accounted for danger man Andy Rose thanks to a smartly taken catch from an all action Dan. James B returned to finish his 10 and was extremely unlucky not to pick up at least a couple of wickets. All of which meant opener Gary Dicker carried his bat for a well paced 77.

The Cavs reply got off to a crawling start as first Asif played back to Rose to be trapped LBW (1 of four in the innings) and Ed got bogged down by an accurate salvo from his counterpart Richardson. Once Ed played all around the first loose ball on offer (kicking the ball in frustration further than he had managed to hit it with the bat) the innings gained some much needed impetus from Greg's (19) uncomplicated stroke play and Viv pouncing on anything short. Despite Viv (37) falling to an "orange juice" shot against a young leg spinner straight after drinks the game still seemed on as Cavs needed less than 100 in the last 20 overs with Dan at the crease with Luke. This was until young Sam Little began his devastating performance, taking 6 for 5 in 3 overs.

All in all a promising start to the season with one or two still needing to blow away some early season cobwebs away. No doubt there is more than one set of aching muscles being nursed as the new week begins...