Despite losing the toss, Swardeston nevertheless got their wish to bat first on a wicket with a bit of variable bounce at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. Runs came steadily throughout the innings but so too did wickets and Swardeston were glad to be able to call on batting talent all the way down their card.
Thriplow’s opening bowler, Harry Bright, removed Freddie Ruffell and Callum Taylor early, both caught behind, and it was Ollie Ebbage (25) and Matt Taylor (13) who steadied the innings in the middle overs, before both fell to fairly weak dismissals. Boundaries remained fairly difficult to come by throughout. The Swardeston total, buoyed by a generous 23 extras, seemed no better than par and Thriplow did well to restrict the Norfolk side.
A little disappointed with their batting display, Swardeston produced a more impressive performance in the field. After a bright opening, Thriplow were soon pegged back by early wickets. Some big hitting by Jones (24), the number 3, briefly brought the Cambridgeshire side close to the required run rate but after he was deceived by a Callum Taylor slower ball and caught mis-timing another expansive shot, Thriplow’s innings rapidly subsided, with no-one else reaching double figures; all the bowlers finished with impressive stats, Callum Taylor, Matt Taylor and Oliver Charlish each helping themselves to a couple of wickets, with Charlish almost snaffling an exceptionally difficult caught and bowled chance too. Two run outs didn’t help the Thriplow cause.
Overall this was a good Swardeston whole team effort, commended by the independent umpire, but a more consistent all-round performance will no doubt be needed if the team is to progress through further rounds, the next match being against the Huntingdonshire cup winners on 24th July.