HISTORIC WIN FOR GRACE'S
After the disappointment of having their first league game cancelled due to bad weather, Grace's finally took the field for their debut in the Middlesex Sunday League Division 2, their opponents Harrow St Mary's CC. Grace's had the advantage of playing on their home ground of Highams Park in East London but the disadvantage of losing the toss on a warm sunny afternoon and being asked to field. The visitors found Shofiq in even meaner mood than usual as he conceded just four runs from his initial spell of four overs. It was Bielby however that achieved the breakthrough, claiming 2-17 as he completed his first spell of four overs. After a double bowling change Harrow's fortunes began to prosper and after 23 overs were 100-2. It was the Grace's fielding, which had seen a remarkable improvement, that brought about the third wicket with a very smart run out, followed six runs later by another great piece of fielding for a second run out. After thirty-two overs and the score on 140-4 skipper Hardisty brought back his opening bowlers, Shofiq causing havoc as he took three wickets in three overs for just one run, and Bielby his third wicket. Had it not been for a fine knock by opener Patel, who batted throughout for 118 out of the total of 176-8 this could have been a very one-sided game.
The Grace's innings got off to a brisk start until Hope was out lbw in the fifth over with the score on 33. Grace's continued to bat confidently, in fact a little too confidently with a number of batsmen guilty of getting out to what might be politely described as injudicious shots. However, almost all contributed with Stockinger top scoring with 36, Mendis 33, a fine 30 not out in nineteen balls by Mappin and a good knock of 24 by Shorrocks. The win by three wickets was far more comfortable than the score might suggest, but in future league games a little more application when batting might be required against opposition that Grace's will be meeting for the first time. On the plus side, this was the best fielding performance for a very long time.