Ross-on-Wye Cricket Club’s 1st XI travelled to Avoncroft Cricket Club in the Worcestershire County Cricket League, on Saturday June 11th. The morning rain and wet outfield meant there was a slightly delayed start and the match was reduced to 46 overs. Ross captain Harry Porter won the toss for the first time this season and elected to put the hosts into bat. 

The decision to bowl first looked like a good one as Porter struck early, dismissing Pitt for 9. Harry King got involved in the action with what will probably be Ross’s most comical wicket of the season. Avoncroft’s Sam Hughes chipped the ball into the air and, blinded by the sun, Graham Howls’ attempt to take the catch was more in keeping with attacking a Harry Kane corner in Marseille as the ball hit him full in the face, rearranging his top row of teeth in the process, but also doing enough to divert the ball into the path of onrushing wicketkeeper Stu Mair who leapt like a salmon to take the catch!

Porter and King picked up one more each and with Avoncroft four down, Tiffen and Josh Element were bought into the attack and some tight bowling from the pair saw 2 more wickets fall leaving Avoncroft 93 for 6 and Ross well on top. However, Avoncroft’s number 7 Craig Hughes had different ideas, scoring freely in a fine innings of 89 not out as he carried the home side to a total of 231 all out not before Tim Dulson had picked up his first wicket for the club when Athey was caught by Element.

The Ross reply started well with openers, Tiffen and Evans putting on 49 for the first wicket, before Evans mistimed a scoop shot and was caught for 11. Jack Donovan soon followed for 4 before Graham Howls, fresh off the football pitch, put on a 53 run partnership with Tiffen. The partnership was ended when Howls was lbw off the bowling of James for 23. Skipper Porter was soon caught on the boundary for 16, and with Tiffen departing soon afterwards for 82, with the score on 155-6, the earlier hard work was in danger of being undone. However, Harry King, 48 not out, and Ben Element, 27 not out, ensured that runs continued to flow and their unbroken partnership of 80 took Ross to a comfortable 4 wicket victory with almost 6 overs to spare. A result that sees Ross move up to 4th place in the league.