Ross-on-Wye Cricket Club’s 1st XI hosted Rushwick Cricket Club’s 1st XI at The Park, on Saturday, June 4th. This was the first game of the eleven straight win or lose games where, in the words of Abba, ‘The winner takes it all’.

Ross CC captain Harry Porter however lost his fifth consecutive toss, and for a fifth time Ross were put into bat first. Ross lost their first wicket in the first over when opener James Tiffen was bowled by an excellent piece of bowling by Ryan Lane for six. Jack Donovan was next at the crease, but soon departed, retiring injured. The departure of Donovan bought captain Porter to the crease.

In typical style, Porter was scoring freely, but he soon chipped one up to

the infield and was out for 33. This brought Harry King to the crease, who was out LBW for zero, giving Edward Burgoyne his second wicket. Graham Howls then succumbed in similar fashion as the previous week when the sweep shot saw his demise for ten.

Josh Element then joined opener Jack Evans at the crease in what proved to be the match winning partnership. The partnership of 76 ended when Jack Evans (80) was bowled, chopping the ball onto his stumps off the bowling of Clive Jones. Josh Element was the next batsmen to fall for a well played 61.

With Ross finishing 259-7 off their 50 overs Rushwick got off to a good start, with opener Matt Davies scoring freely. The first wicket came when Harry Porter bowled James Saunders for eight. Opener Davies’s innings was soon drawn to a close when he was bowled by Harry King and Rushwick were 46-2. King soon picked up the third with a brilliant catch by Ben Element at first slip; the score 57-3.

Runs were still flowing, but Ross were taking regular wickets with Josh Element and Harry King bowling well. The pair finished their spells with figures of 10-1-39-2 and 10-1-34-2 respectively. With the score on 94-5 spinner Tiffen was bought into the attack. He struck immediately bowling Ryan Lane for four.

With some tight bowling Tiffen and Jack Donovan soon picked up the remaining wickets and Rushwick subsided to 152 all out to leave Ross victors by 107 runs. Tiffen finished with figures of 9-3-24-2 and Donovan 6.5-2-23-3.

An all round good performance by Ross, who take on Avoncroft CC next.