Grace's took on Actors Anonymous on Sunday in what turned out to be an exciting win after the disappointments of Saturday's loss to the Foreign Office.
Grace's second team took the field for the very first time under the captaincy of Camberwell, who was supported throughout the day by ex-captain Curtis and other senior players, including Silva, Stockinger, and Chairman McGing, and Sopp his Vice-Chairman also chipped in.
Mercuri and Sopp agreed to played for the opposition who arrived two men down.
Grace's lost the toss and took to the field in glorious sunshine. Camberwell has promised to be experimental in approach throughout the build-up to this event and did not fail to deliver on the day. Opening the bowling for Grace's were Sri Lankan duo Fawaz and Silva who (after a nervous start) settled well and quickly asserted their authority by controlling the run flow with a defensive field.
The bowling attack was changed at regular intervals. After bowling 5 overs in which he took a wicket, Fawaz was rested and Quartermain took over the attack. At the other end Newton-Sawyerr replaced Silva for a few overs before making way for debutant Pullens who bowled 3 overs. Camberwell took a wicket with his loopy "fast spin" before Silva was brought straight back on to complete his allotted overs to take the wicket of Mercuri (playing for the opposition). Curtis bowled 5 overs and took a clever wicket with a good stumping, before taking over as wicket-keeper to allow Stockinger the chance to bowl the last over to Sopp, who ended 6 not out with a lovely four on the leg side. The Actors ended their innings for 154 for 5 in their 35 overs with Hayles top scoring on 51.
In reply, Stockinger and Curtis opened the batting for Graces and Curtis hit a quick 15 runs that included two fours and a six before being bowled. New boys Scott, chairman McGing and Braybook failed to get into double figures and the game was evenly poised with Grace's on 75 for 5 against good bowling from the Actors and the pressure was on to reach the target. Stockinger scored another effortless 50 before being bowled going for another big one.
Pullens impressed with 12 careful runs, and Camberwell steadied the nerves by hitting a quick fire 22. Silva made a steady 12 in a partnership of 29 with Fawaz, hitting two great fours in between some super defence against the opening bowlers, before being bowled.
Fawaz in his first innings of the season showed that he could drive, hook and pull, scoring 23 not out, hitting a great six to win the game for Grace's in a nail-biting finish.
The future looks bright for the club and the captain was proud of the whole team's positive approach and the contribution everyone played with "a never-say-die attitude". Apologies must go to anyone who wanted to play on Sunday but who could not get into the team, we have a growing membership and more 2nd team games will need to organised to quench the thirst of new members.