Village CC (221-6) beat St Anne’s Allstars (200-8) by 21 runs. A swashbuckling 73 from skipper James Morgan, ably supported by Dave Halladay’s 40, was not enough in the fading August light. Morgan’s departure, run out backing up, with Allstars needing 46 off 28 balls left the home side with too much to do. Up to then it was a tense affair, worthy of the new plastic, bronze effect trophy which was collected by Eklayva Gupte, Village’s victorious captain.
Morgan spoke for the whole team by placing the blame for the defeat firmly at Maxie’s door. Gupte said: “It was a good game, I never thought the Allstars could reach our target, but I was scared by how close they came in the end. A really good game.”

Allstars are 73-4 after 17 overs (Morgan 16no, Halladay 13no), chasing 222 to win. Run rate required is 8.28.
In an exclusive interview with the Allstars Blog, captain-for-the-day James Morgan said: “We’re just taking it ball by ball.”

Hindle 48. Harty 45.
Bowman 2-25. Hautot 1-23.
A much more lively second half to the innings saw some big sixes, some catches go to hand, and a challenging target for the Allstars of 222 to win. James Morgan’s imaginative captaincy was a particular highlight.

After 18 overs, James Hindle and Steve Harty have taken the Village to a soporific 89-0. Some Pakistani style catching from the home team contributed to the general feeling of ennui.

Stand-in skipper James Morgan won the toss and decided that the Allstars should bowl.