On a day when the sun was out in spells Huncote travelled to Taverners in hope of a repeat of last years performance. Taverners took to the field first and the opening partnership of Knott and Smith bowled tightly at the Huncote opening paring of Spencer and Stratford. Smith soon claimed the wicket of Stratford, bowling the skipper for 5. Mitchell Hubbard soon followed playing across the line to a straight one resulting in his stumps being destroyed again off the bowling of Smith. Smith joined Spencer at the crease and it was with him that Spencer started to establish a much needed partnership.

With Garland and Dyke replacing the openers he started to hit the ball to all parts and with Smith holding up and end the score started to tick over nicely. This prompted a bowling change and with this the partnership was broken, Smith bowled by the skipper Wright for a well worked 18. A quick flurry of action saw Frazer Hubbard hit three fours before going for the boundary again, finding the edge and the ball flying up into the air and back down into the safe hands of Dyke below off the bowling of Wright. Webb armed with his new 'bat-tering ram' entered the frame and hopes of some big hits weighed upon his huge shoulders. But it was Spencer who departed next, the opener who had passed his fifty with some big hits including three sixes and nine fours, never looked in any trouble into he was bowled by Baxter off the bowlers first ball for a great 63. 

Swann then entered the fray to join his batting partner Webb, the two had put on over 120 runs in their last two innings together. But the partnership came to an end when Webb defended a bouncing ball and angled his bat straight back to the waiting hands of the returned opener knott for 2. Swann then started to find his feet and was helped by some, at times, inconsistent bowling to find the boundary on a couple of occasions early on. Matthews was down the other end and started to swing away at the bowling, hitting a four and a couple of two's before he was dismissed, skying one again into the waiting hands of Dyke off the bowling of Knott for 9. 

Farmer entered the arena and looked to move the score on hitting three good fours, the partnership looked to be building between him and Swann, who was now moving into the forties, before he was bowled by one that didn't bounce from Baxter for a good 14. Crossley came to the crease and with overs running out batted majestically hammering a number of fours and looking solid to the end. Swann reached his fifty, his first in senior cricket, by hitting a single to fine leg. After another couple of fours for Crossley the Huncote innings ended on a good 253-8, Crossley finishing not out 25 including five fours and Swann 52 not out. The score helped by the 52 extras bowled!

A good tea was taken and Huncote took to the field in good spirits. John Smith bowled tightly at the beginning, Swann who had just taken off his pads getting a bit of tap off R Smith who hit him for two fours and a six in consecutive balls. This prompted Webb to be put on the boundary and the plan worked when Smith went for another big hit only to find the safe hands of Webb on the boundary. Smith departing off the bowling of Swann for a good quick 23. The second wicket was hard to come by as L Smith started to establish himself at the crease. But the breakthrough came thanks to a stunning diving catch from skipper Stratford at point off the bowling of John Smith, Knott making his way back to the pavilion for 9. 

Dyke joined the comfortable Smith and started to build a partnership before he skied one off the bowling of Stratford straight down the throat of Matthews for 11. Smith was beginning to bat with conviction and found boundaries at regular intervals hitting Stratford for a glorious straight 6. Smith past his fifty and looked to be going further, along with fellow batsmen R Baxter.

But he skied one yet again into the deep, where Frazer Hubbard took a great diving catch just above the ground on the cover boundary. Smith departing for a very good 58 involving eight fours and a six. Taverners were struggling to reach the target before this but with Baxter starting to hit boundaries had hope to reach a respectable score. That hope was quashed however when Garland was caught by Frazer Hubbard at gully for 2 off the bowling of Swann, and in Swann's next over R Baxter departed as well the ball cutting back and hitting off stump, the batsmen disappointed he couldn't build on his 20, a good innings however.

Wright and Brooks were then at the crease and had nothing really to play for. Farmer bowled very tightly and removed Brooks by getting one to roll under his bat for a duck. But Huncote could not remove the remaining batsmen and after an over from usual wicketkeeper Frazer Hubbard the Taverners innings was ended with the score 135-7, skipper Wright 0* and I Baxter 1*. Swann bowling his last four overs for no runs and two wickets, thanks to some defensive batting, and farmer going for only 2 runs off his 3 overs. Crossley and Spencer also bowled well to round off a fairly good day for Huncote. Just a bit disappointing the win could not be wrapped up at the end.

Man of the Match- James Swann

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