Friendly

Belstone v Datchet

Datchet Cricket Club from Slough, on their first tour for many years, were welcomed to Belstone for a 15 over, eight-balls an over evening friendly.

Richard Drake’s opening spell (3-0-12-2) of slow looping deliveries proved tricky for the visitors as they slumped to 30-5, this including the dismissal of Berkshire county player Joe Thomas, caught at point by Jack Barkwell off Doug Little for just four.

A partial recovery followed with Thienus Jackson and Ryan Doye (21) doubling the score to 66 before Jackson was stumped by Jack Hatton off Alex Jopling (2-0-19-2) for 23, the first of three Hatton stumpings. Andy King picked up two late wickets but it was left to occasional bowler Chris Walpole to dismiss last man Gurmehar Sumra (11) with a smart caught and bowled, his first wicket in five years and only his fourth since debuting for the Club when it formed in 1993!

After Callum Edgar claimed an early wicket, bowling Matt Dennis for 9, Hatton and Ryan Dennis looked at ease pushing the score along to 74 before they both retired on 25 and 34 respectively.

Datchet fielded most of the time in steady rain but they persevered with two wickets for Gurmehar Sumra before Alex Jopling and Harry Bushin knocked off the remaining runs to give Belstone a seven wicket win. Jopling won the post-match ‘most entertaining player’ award for a rain-affected stroke that saw his slippery bat end up in the covers and for his quick off-field reactions to save an injury at the pavilion.