For the first time in a league fixture we welcomed Ansty to the Rec and whilst the result did not go our way we'll look back on this one as a missed opportunity for we played some good cricket in this game.
The bowlers all round did their part and despite a strong start by Ansty openers Towler and Wybrow who put on 58, Chilt pegged Ansty back to 119-7 after Jake removed the opening pair. Rueben bowled brilliantly with no luck, it was as much as the Ansty batsmen could do to just block him back. A sharp chance to gully went down off Rubes bowling which would in one moment sum-up his afternoon. Hugh bowled well first change, picking up a couple of wickets himself whilst Lucko toiled away at the other end, the batsmen generally finding little option but to block or throw their hands through it. Ben finished with 3-26 and Hugh 2-28 in 18 important middle overs. Charlie came on and would have done well but for some poor fielding off his bowling, in particular a dropped catch at long-on as Ansty countered, their number 8 Jack Palser cracking 44 and taking them towards a decent position. Howgate replaced Lucko and sliced through the tail, including the key wicket of Palser, grabbing 3-18 in his three overs. Ansty ended 171 all out in 41 overs.
Our response was not one to be proud of although the Ansty bowlers were threatening throughout and much of the credit should go to their ability with the ball rather than any poor shot execution or decision making on our part. We were quickly 7-2 as both Morne and Alfie departed for one each. This was almost as quickly 22-3 when Charlie was bowled by the impressive overseas Jake Wilson. Ben and Reuben looked good for period but when Ben all but walked to a strong LBW appeal Chilt had slipped to 47-4 and then 48-5 when Theo was bowled by a one of those balls you just have to hold your hands up to. Reuben looked really good for 23 but departed to a fantastic catch (told you his luck was out) and Woody rather foolishly then ran himself out. Ollie scored five before splicing one to mid-wicket and Howgate bludgeoned a huge six clean over the village hall and hit some lovely shots to give us hope but when he fell for 20 the game was all but over, Chilt still needing 57 to win and only Jake and Hugh in the hutch. Jake did his best to give Ansty the jitters, cracking 23 including one very delicate four to third man but he was left with too much to do. Chilt finished 131 all out - a 40 run defeat.