DCC went back to a post Foot and Mouth Hilton CC, with memories of last seasons belter still alive. Which was more than could be said for Alec.....

The always flat Hilton wicket looked, well, flat really, and as we went out to bat (after JL won the toss), so it proved. The ball rarely got up more than stump height, and this proved the undoing of at least one or two of our number. The innings was built on 3 knocks, 
   1. a steady, nurdly, nudgy 32 from Rob, before he got what can only be described as a shocker of a ball, virtually a grubber. (Quote Birdy from the other end "Glad we ran 3 last ball....")
   2. an awesome debut 50 from Birdy, surely the first of many as he looks better every game, displaying all shots as he and Rob put on 74 for the 4th wicket, and 
   3. a brutal 55 from Dean, who treated all bowling with similar disdain in a frightening knock. Power hitting of the highest order, and he bats at 11 for Eastwood....
We ended up on 200 and we thought it should be enough.

It was. Just. As last year, Hilton's 2 brothers Barber set about the task with a great willingness and not a little luck it must be said. But we didn't hold the catches and they made a good fist of it. Alec struck early but the runs continued and it was only after tiredness set in that we restricted the runs and won eventually.

Another great game at an increasingly dark Hilton CC. I wonder if they bat first what will happen....?

DCC  200-7 off 40 overs (Birdy 50, Deano 55)
Hilton 182-8 in 40 overs (Barber N 93)