First XI away at Cirencester

Short on players Apperley were bowled out for 137 with only Jimmy Williams (37) and Sol Dark (19) doing anything in the way of troubling our scorer, Janette Sullivan. Having won the toss we lost our last seven wickets for just 44 runs. As with the previous week Apperley showed little resolve once Dark had been dismissed.

However, a big fightback in the second innings nearly saw Apperley pull of a remarkable victory. Hugh Leeke took four wickets and Dave Means two as Cirencester were reduced to 110-7. A decent partnership for the 8th wicket edged Cirencester close to the line though and they finally got the victory by two wickets. Apperley took 5 points in the defeat.

Second XI home to Hatherley & Reddings

In the home game, our first full match to feature commentary, Hatherley and Reddings Third XI won the toss and chose to bat. Last year’s Second XI Player of the Season, Henry Wilkes was playing his first league game this year and opened his account with 3 wickets. Flynn Costello and David Steinham took two wickets apiece while Mike Ahearne set the tone for Apperley with a very economical spell opening the bowling with 0-18 from eight overs.

Steinham opened the bowling himself alongside Ahearne. His 2-25 from 8 overs were accompanied by a bang to the head as a throw in from the boundary missed his hands and clonked him right on the noggin. Whether it was that knock that caused him to slightly miscount the overs later on or whether it was all part of his masterplan, the skipper ended up having to find a sixth bowler for the penultimate over of the innings.

Already short on bowling options as it was he turned to Steve Best, requesting he bowl seam up and not the spin from the previous week (where Best had been successful in twisting the captain’s arm for a short spell when Apperley had already won the game). Best didn’t disappoint off the longer run up, picking up the team’s eighth wicket as Hatherley and Reddings finished on 189-8.

It was Best and Steinham who got Apperley off to a quick start but Best (13) was unable to replicate his batting heroics from the previous week and Steinham (21) too couldn’t capitalise on what was looking like a very focussed innings as he slashed at a wide one and was caught behind.

Not content with his 3 wickets and a catch it was Wilkes who came in at number three and all but secured the victory. He got to 48 before holing out so it was Srini Kamath (41*) and Neil Meredith (29*) who saw Apperley home, winning by six wickets with 11 balls to spare. Apperley’s second victory in three league games saw them take 21 points.