The lovely Cotswold town of Bradford on Avon was the centre for Grace's annual tour of the West Country. Once again, the team and friends were made to feel welcome at the picturesque 16th Century Leigh House, well worth a visit in its own right.
On Saturday Hinton Charterhouse, a strong village side employing an under-23 Sri Lankan international as their professional, played hosts and on winning the toss elected to bat in a 40-over match. Starting at 2 o'clock it was always going to be difficult to get 80 overs plus tea in before darkness was due to fall and so it proved. Hinton started steadily against some fast and accurate bowling from Shofiq and Curtis. The breakthrough came with a change of bowling. Fawaz, medium-paced but getting some swing and movement off the pitch removed both openers and ended with figures of 2 for 24 from his 8 overs. Two catches that would have graced any Test ground, one from Fawaz and the other by Camberwell, ensured that wickets continued to tumble, with Rishafi capturing three of the eight wickets to fall in Hinton's total of 183 in their 40 overs.
After an all too leisurely tea the light was already beginning to fade as Camberwell and Swinburne set about their task. Wickets fell at regular intervals as the score progressed, all save that of Rishafi who, continuing a great season, defied all that Hinton could throw at him in the gathering gloom. When the ninth wicket fell and he was joined by last man, Fawaz 21 runs were still required in almost complete darkness but cometh the hour, cometh the man and with a majestic boundary Rishafi reached 84 not out and Grace's had won a tremendous match by one wicket.