After recent close defeats Wanderers finally got off the mark with their first win of the season.  It was a well deserved win against new opposition in the form of Worthing Grace.  A fixture that one hopes to see repeated, played in a good spirit.

The weather held fair and, having won the previous four tosses, Laurie kept up his streak and elected to bat.  Throughout both innings batsmen on both sides faced uneven bounce and at times uneven bowling and getting into a rhythm was never easy, but after the early loss of Graham, who succumbed to a hoik and was caught at fine leg, Sam and Jamie consolidated the early part of the innings.  Both players hit half centuries with Sam dismissed for 50 and Jamie finally falling for a well played 75. 

Their partnership set the foundation for Wanderers to reach a very competitive 196-6.  Ducky fell for just 2 in front of his adoring fan club, and was outscored by Dad!  Chris Gilham offered solid support with12 and was ably supported by a power hitting cameo from Athers who upped the run rate at the right time with 13.  In his post innings interview with Monty, Athers was rightly happy with his innings and expressed his desire to bat higher!  But that was off the record of course.

Tony Fuller opened the bowling and delivered a mammoth 14 over spell finishing with 2-58.  Laurie opened from the other end and was very unlucky not to be among the wickets.  The visitors were always behind the rate, although with 12 overs to go and 5 wickets left, a target of 6.5 an over was possible.  Enter into the fray the fans hero, Murali Clarke, who with a vengeance tore through the batting with 4-30, accompanied by Jamie who having recovered from his long innings then took 3-14.

Worthing Grace lived up to their name in defeat and we look forward to a return game in the future.  All round a satisfying day.

Monty