Finally, the sun was shining and after a week of hard labour for the ground crew of Ross Cricket Club, The Park was looking in excellent shape for the first home fixture of the season against Leominster based, Dales Cricket Club, 1st XI.

Dales won the toss, chose to bowl and were rewarded with three early wickets as openers Stu Mair and Mike Jeffryes were followed back to the hutch by Graham Howls with less than 30 on the board. Charlie Cole, batting at 4, showed sound technique and patience as he made 21 whilst playing the junior partner role to Captain Jack Donovan, who took the batting honours with a fluent knock of 72.

Alex Springer made 16 before he was caught and the lower order all chipped in as the Ross innings closed on 170-9, Chris Breeze being the pick of the Dales bowlers with 3-31 from his 10 overs.

After retreating to the cool of the sports centre for a very pleasant tea, Dales openers set out in pursuit of the Ross total and, aided by some uncharacteristically wayward bowling of wides and no-balls by the hosts, added 70 before Batson was bowled by Donovan for 34. Wickets then began to tumble regularly as Donovan clean bowled two more batsmen and had a third snapped up by keeper Jim Lewis, whilst Andrew Tingle removed Stanik (21) courtesy of the safe hands of Adam Davies in the covers.

Ian Jones (30) and Charlie Stanik (11) then fought back before both were brilliantly caught by Alex Springer and Chloe Tingle respectively off the bowling of Mair and Donovan. Donovan immediately followed up with his 6th wicket removing Lowther and with 8 wickets down and 45 still needed, Ross appeared to be big favourites.

However, the veteran Adrian Gore and Wayne Bufton kept their calm and edged Dales closer and closer to their victory target before slick fielding by Charlie Cole ended the partnership with a runout and 11 still needed to win. Unfortunately for Ross the last wicket pair held their nerve and won the game in the final over as the hosts were left to rue the 40 extras conceded in the field.

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