Ross 1st XI 232 ao --- Kempsey 133 ao

Ross-on-Wye 1st XI opened their Worcestershire League Division 3 season last Saturday with a home game against newly promoted Kempsey.

After losing the toss, Ross were asked to bat on a wicket with a damp undertone and the visitors enjoyed early success as Ross slumped to 25-3.

Captain Harry Porter walked to the middle with Ross in need of resolve, but the situation worsened as Jack Evans chased a wide one and was caught behind for 8.

Porter was quickly finding the boundary as frequently as wickets were falling as Ross subsided to 109-9 when last man Stu Mair walked out to the middle to join Porter who was on 59 not out.

This was the start of what historians are speculating as the highest last wicket partnership at Ross Cricket Club. Porter continued to mix up lusty blows with careful placement when caressing the ball to the boundary and was given staunch support by Chairman Mair which enabled Porter to reach his 100 in just 69 deliveries.

The Ross total was 232 when the partnership of 123 was finally broken, Mair falling lbw for 22. Harry Porter remained unbeaten on 141 from just 103 balls, hitting ten 4s and nine 6s. The pick of the Kempsey bowlers was Adam Hunabun (5-53).

Porter, when opening the bowling picked up two early wickets as Kempsey slipped to 20-2. Tristan Robinson and Captain Zakary O’Neill consolidated well, scoring quickly, however Porter picked up his third wicket when he bowled Robinson for 37.

Off-spinner James Tiffen was introduced into the attack and promptly dismissed O’Neill with his second ball leaving Kempsey 60-5 before an excellent piece of fielding by Jack Evans, at backward point, brought further success with a run out. Ware (19) and Winstanley (44no) battled hard for the visitors before a further breakthrough came when Tom Porter had Ware caught at mid-wicket by Graham Howls.

Tiffen (2-29) then secured an lbw verdict for his 2nd wicket and T. Porter (3-10) mopped up the tail to leave Kempsey 133 all out.

Ross begin the season with a maximum 24 points from this 99 run victory. Harry Porter finished with 4–27 to go with his big 100. Confidence will be high when the team travel to Himbleton next week after this morale boosting start to the campaign.