Chilt beat Broadwater by eight wickets to move top of the table.
We certainly aren't getting carried away, there is only three points separating the top four sides, but as things stand it's nice to be sitting at the summit! Our most recent win at the weekend, by eight wickets over Broadwater might have looked simple on paper but delve deeper into the scorecard and you'll see the game was not without challenges and frustrations.
JEM won the toss and elected to bowl and within minutes that decision was vindicated as Broadwater slipped to 18-5! Reuben Taylor ripping through the top order with four wickets, Jake Hodgson the fifth as Broadwater's batsmen had no answer to both the bowling or the pitch, which was let's say, not highly conducive to batting against the new ball. This became 70-8 after some resistance from Gareth Challen but his innings was ended by a fine run out from Ollie Holden whilst at the other end Alex Tatchell took a wicket with his first ball in First XI cricket! Some lusty blows by the tail gave Broadwater some late runs but still at 114-9 Chilt were well on top. This should have been 120 all out but a top edged sweep fell between four Chilt fielders, none of whom took responsibility for the catch and this proved costly as Nigel Waller and Fitzroy Hodges put on 62 for the 10th wicket, taking Broadwater to 176 all out. Definitely defendable on a tricky pitch that kept low from the off and turned, albeit slowly. Reuben finished with 4-25 and Alex 3-37 on debut!
Ollie and Morne set about the chase and quickly settled any nerves, scoring 56 for the opening stand. Ollie departed for 17 and JEM followed for five but it was plain sailing from that point on as Morne and Reuben both hit half centuries, Morne 76 not out and Reuben 59 not out in a 97 run partnership that took Chilt to victory, 30 points and a place at the top of the table.
