MBCC Second XI V's Datchet 2 3/05/2008

After a wet week it was always going to be tough batting first on a damp, slow track at Datchet. Having been put in by the hosts, M & B had the worst possible start when Shaqs Qureshi was bowled with the fourth ball of the game. This led to Tom Wilding joining Andy Parham at the crease, and the innings began in earnest, the first hour was always going to be tough as the wicket was spongy and the outfield slow, but the 2 dug in and got the score board ticking over. When Wilding went in the 28th over for 57 Bray were 116 – 2 and in a good position to kick on and get to a good score. However Parham departed for a patient 60 3 overs later and Bray were 129 – 3, then Datchet took control with no Bray player really getting settled. A scramble in the last few overs took Bray to 189 all out after 40 overs.

In reply Datchet began cautiously and with Armstrong and Bhatti bowling tight lines, Bray got an early breakthrough via Armstrong. Then Bhatti claimed 2 wickets in 2 balls to really put Bray on the front foot, and when Armstrong picked up his second wicket Bray were looking at finishing the game off. However Datchet regrouped and it took an excellent spell by Matt Botha who bowled tightly and intelligently for 2 – 38 and with Jangir Alam bowling well at the other end meant that Datchet were struggling. The game took another twist with Jackson and Finn getting Datchet closer still, but Alam accounted for both of them and he took his third wicket of the game to polish the innings off. Datchet bowled out for 181 with 10 balls left.