BPCC v RAF

The fourth game of the 2022 tour had all the makings of a classic.

Winning the toss and electing to bowl looked like a mistake when the RAF opening pair got going quickly. However, the 12th over saw both fall with Rob Smith being bowled by Stuart Drakeley for 33 and, for the third time this week, a mix-up saw both batsmen at the same end allowing Mike Harling to get the ball back to Drakeley, running out Christopher Morris for 20 two balls later. Christopher Oliver was kept quiet by some tight bowling facing 23 balls for his 7 before he edged a catch to Gary Knight off the bowling of Will Heather.

A partnership of 52 for the 4th wicket put some pressure back on the BPCC bowling attack but it was eventually broken by Heather, getting Sam Beales caught by Callum Storey for 25. A further 49 run partnership for the 6th wicket looked like it would start to take the game away from the Police side but some good bowling from David Roffey saw captain Tom Shorthouse bowled in the 41st over for 73. Two overs later, Roffey struck again, trapping Thomas Mustoe in front for 5. Another decent partnership got started for the 7th wicket before Roffey stuck again in the 49th over, removing Jack Harrison, caught by Storey, for 27.

The last over was hectic, with Jack Fuller caught in the deep by Stuart Drakeley for 17 off the bowling of Sam Godfrey the first ball of the over. The second ball saw Guy Watts stumped by Gary Knight for 4. The third ball was a touch shorter, so new bat Keiran Pearce was able to take a single and get off strike. The next two deliveries were deemed wide before the next broke through the defences of James Holt, bowling him for 0. RAF CC ended 230 all out with notable bowling from David Roffey (9 overs, 3 for 50) and Sam Godfrey (6.4 overs, 3 for 45)

In reply, BPCC got off to a roaring start, blasting the first 50 runs in just 29 balls. The first wicket fell in the 9th over, breaking an 80 partnership, with Will Evans hearing the rattle of timber off the bowling of Tom Shorthouse, out for 31. Matt Sisson was next to fall shortly after blasting 50 in 31 balls, bowled by Jack Harrison for 54 (7 fours and 3 sixes). Stuart Drakeley and Tom Knight steadied the ship with a solid 50 partnership before Knight was also bowled by Harrison for 17. Things just started shifting towards the RAF then when Gary Knight was given out LBW 3 balls later for a duck.

That was the last chance the RAF got as Drakeley and Micky Martin knocked off the remaining runs without trouble. Drakeley ended 60 not out (6 fours and 2 sixes) and Martin 38 not out (6 fours).