After a run of defeats, Bures turned up to the latest 20:20 with a strong team and high hopes. St Martin’s, as yet an untried opposition, arrived in dribs and drabs, with the assurance that they had not won a game in 2 years, thereby further increasing the home teams confidence, whilst simultaneously putting some pressure on, not wanting to be the first team to grant them a victory.

Toss duly won, captain Stu opted to bat, and after a relatively slow start, on a slow pitch with even slower bowling, the Chairman and Hugh S started to get things moving. However, in an effort to speed up the rate, both perished to wild swings, and it was left to the middle order of Will Melrose, Charlie E, Sean Reilly and Joe S to push things along, with Sean scoring his first runs (23) for Bures, and the other 3 all retiring having reached the requisite 25. A final score of 155 seemed likely to be enough on such a pitch.

The Colonel and Eddie M opened up the Bures attack, and although St Martin’s showed some fight with a few powerful blows, the Colonel soon had their first wicket, and they steadily fell further and further behind the asking rate. Captain Stu then astutely brought himself on, quickly taking 2 wickets and creating even greater pressure on the visitors.

The middle order of St Martin’s then made a bit of a comeback, with 2 of their batsmen reaching 25 before retiring and a third just falling short to a great outfield catch by Hugh Stanton. But ultimately there was too much experience in the Bures bowling, with Charlie E taking the final 2 wickets in the last over. 

So back to winning ways, and the beer in the Bells tasting all the sweeter for it.