The 3s were away to Great Alne last weekend attempting to get back to winning ways.

Skipper Geoff Brown lost the toss and was asked by Great Alne's skipper to bowl first. The usual opening partnership of Dave Snipe and Alex Booker started well with Alex tying Great Alne batsman Tom Alder in knots missing the outside edge by inches again and again. Dave then got the breakthrough taking Great Alne's overseas player Blake Huard early caught behind by Guy Massey, his 1st of 4 catches. This brought Steve Temple to the crease and these two frustrated the bowlers until Lewis Smith who was on first change for Alex had Temple caught by Andrew Plimmer for the 2nd wicket of the match which bought captain Jack Lawrence to the crease.
Dave finished his spell of 10 overs with 1-45 which then brought on skipper Geoff to bowl. After a couple of wayward overs and Great Alne being 101-1 at drinks he found his rhythm after drinks and quickly took Alder caught behind, catch number 2 for Guy which brought Rob Stanley to the crease.

Lewis finished up with figures of 6 overs, 1-25 in his first spell which brought Jake Mcgrory on to bowl who bowled well in tandem with Geoff. Jake took the wicket of Stanley caught by the skipper which brought Joe Walters to the crease who got a first ball duck caught by Dave Snipe leaving Jake on a hat trick, bringing Robbie Matthews to the crease who blocked out the hat trick ball. Jake finished with figures of 6 overs 2-21, the best he has bowled all season and this then brought Alex back on to bowl. Geoff took himself off after 8 overs, thinking about the last 2 overs at the end which brought Colby Snipe on to bowl who snagged the wicket of Matthews with his 4th ball caught behind by Guy which brought Simon Chester to the crease. After a couple of 4s Alex finally got the wicket he deserved for Guy's final catch of the match which brought Warwick Guck to the crease. Alex unfortunately couldn't bowl his last over due to an ankle injury so Lewis bowled the 44th over snagging the wicket of Guck finishing with figures of 7 overs 2-30. Colby was again bowling too well for Geoff to take him off and he snagged the wicket of Luke Breretin in the final over and Great Alne finished on 188-9, 2nd half taken by Earlswood 87-8.

Dave and Andrew Plimmer opened up again for the 3rd week in a row, Plimmer coming off a couple of good scores of 40+, unfortunately it didn't come off this week and he was bowled through the gate by Walters who opened up the bowling with Huard off his VERY LONG run-up! This brought Guy to the crease who showed his intent by smashing his first ball for 4 through the covers. Dave then fell to Huard in the 8th over to leave Earlswood 19-2 and bringing the returning Sam Shale to the crease. He and Guy started to build a good partnership until one popped up on Sam and he was caught by Alder off Robbie Matthews' bowling with the score at 59-3 off 12 overs. This brought 'golden arm' Colby to the crease who unfortunately departed 4 overs later bowled through the gate by Matthews with the score at 73-4 which brought Abhi Lal to the crease. He started very positively and despite being 4 down Earlswood's runrate was very good and were in a good position but unfortunately after a 4 and a 6 by Abhi he was caught the next ball by Burch off the bowling of Stanley with the score at 92-5 and this brought Richard Jackson to the crease.

Unfortunately in the next couple of overs Earlswood lost Guy bowled by Chester with one of his 'air' balls leaving the 3's on 96-6 with a very daunting task in front of them. This brought Alex to the crease. Earlswood tried to get to drinks without any further losses but unfortunately Richard fell to Chester leaving Earlswood 102-7 at drinks.

Lewis walked out after drinks but fell very quickly a 2nd ball duck caught behind off Stanley's bowling which brought captain Geoff to the crease at number 10 in the 23rd over and the score at 102-8. Alex then got drawn in by another loopy ball by Chester bowled for 1 bring Jake to the crease with Earlswood needing 87 to win for the last wicket. After some solid defence by Jake and a couple of 4's by Geoff he was unfortunately bowled for 9 again by Chester with Earlswood finishing on 111 all out taking 5 points but the 3rd loss on the bounce.

Next week the 3s are finally back at Rumbush Lane hosting Fladbury hoping to get back to winning ways.

Scorecard