Minch 2ndXI travelled to Hawkesbury Upton on a beautiful day for cricket. The sun was shining, the sky was mostly clear and the pitch looked a belter. Minch lost the toss but we’re put into bat. They started slowly but soon Scott was undone by one that jagged away. This brought Hole to the wicket. He wasted no time in getting the score board rocking. Picking up 7 boundaries on his way to a rapid 40. However he was skittled by one that came off his pads. This brought Simon Penn out of the shed. He continued where Hole left off. He plundered the Hawkesbury attack on the front and back foot. Along with Shearman who steadily accumulated runs at the other end, the score board quickly reached triple figures. A huge partnership saw the 200 come and go. Shearman finally being undone for 73 while trying to push on for his maiden 100. This brought Jack Cartledge out. He again kept up the run rate and supported Penn who continued to find the boundary. Penn finished on an unbeaten 183 with Carteledge on 29.  Riddington was the pick of the bowlers with 2-42.

Chasing 341, Hawkesbury collapsed in style, the top three batsmen all back in the pavilion before a run was scored. Pitman 3-10 and Hitchcroft 3-8 combined to reduce the home side to 7 for 6. Debutant Richard George top scored with 15. W.Ides was the second top scorer with 8. Ed Aris impressed in the middle order, stemming the flow of wickets. However Minch kept up the pressure and Matt Hole produced one of the finest pieces of fielding seen by a minch shirt. A one handed pick up and throw at one stump to create a lightening runout. Scott, having not scored a run, was given an over and produced a wicket and Cartledge took the final man to secure victory by possibly the biggest margin in Minchinhampton history; 299 runs.

Despite its one-sided nature, the match was played in great spirit. A true advert for this very special game.

Thanks to Tom Shearman for the report.