BPCC v Elvetham Hotel Select XI

British Police CC (320 for 5) beat Elvetham Select XI (171 all out) by 146 runs (DLS)

This match only went ahead thanks to Nazoomi at The Elvetham Hotel who managed to get 11 players from around the local leagues to play at such short notice following chelate withdrawal of Lincs CCC who pulled out stating they had no players available despite this fixture being agreed 6+ months ago.

The second match of tour got off to a delayed start due to the weather and, as with the game the day before, there was an early wicket with Will Evans knicking off to Toby Porter in the 3rd over for 7. Scoring wasn’t easy in the face of a tight Elvetham opening pair, and they were rewarded again in the 11th over with Porter bowling Shaun Smith for 18.

It seemed, though, that the change bowling of the Elvetham team wasn’t quite at the same standard as Dave Roffey and Gary Knight set about them, blazing 133 runs between them during the next 18 overs until Roffey was caught off the bowling of Dillon Marx for 60. Gary Knight carried on in the same vein, bringing up his ton in just 85 balls. He ultimately fell on 106 (including 13 fours and 4 sixes), caught off the bowling of Marx.

At this point, with the skipper in, Tom Knight stepped on the gas and hit a flurry of boundaries , finally getting out on 83 off 59 balls (including 6 fours and 5 sixes). The normally steady-scoring skipper Micky Martin ended not out on 21 off 18 balls and Stuart Drakeley not out on 1. BPCC ended 320 for 5

In reply, got off to a good start with a 50 run partnership between the opening pair before Cameron Brown was caught by Stuart Drakeley off Joe Flatt’s bowling for 17. Number 3, Saj Nizam followed not long after, being caught by Stuart Smith, again off the bowling of Flatt. Some good striking from opener Dillon Marx gave some impetus to the Elvetham innings but when he was caught by Micky Martin and Max Tomlinson was stumped, both off the bowling of Drakeley, the writing was pretty much on the wall.

A mix up led to Jay Matharu ending up at the same end as his partner, giving ‘Too Tall’ Dave Roffey an easy run out for 5, followed shortly after by Nabil Moughal being sent on his way LBW off the bowling of Callum Storey. A decent 7th wicket stand of 39 was broken by Dominic Manthorpe, having Dilsham Silva caught off a fierce bouncer for 8 before Rachinda Punchihewa was stunned to see Roffey leap full length to one-handed grab his wicket off the bowling of Flatt for 21. Roffey then picked up the last two wickets in the same over, bowling Toby Porter for 8 and captain Nazoomi Azhar caught by Callum Storey for 2, leaving Azam Riyard not out on 1. Notable bowling again from Joe Flatt (9 overs, 2 maidens, 3 for 41)

Once again British Police CC would like to thank the Elvetham Hotel for putting together a side at such short notice