Despite some suspect directions and map reading the challenge match between the over 35's and the under 35's took place at the Dummer Cricket Centre in North Hampshire on Saturday 6th April. 

It seemed appropriate that the first cricket of the season was greated by near perfect condition outdoors and indoors.  Under lights in the purpose built arena the first challenge match got underway with the Oldies batting.  Extras were in plentiful supply thanks to the very stringent No ball and wide rules and some inexperienced bowling.  Paul Hill and Ian Widdowson were the main contributors in a total of 156 with 40 and 42 runs respectively although Wides top scored with 43 !

Fuelled with the confidence of this massive total the Oldies set about what seemed to be the routine task of defending 156.  However Stef Dziwinski had other ideas hitting consecutive sixes off Jeremy's first 2 balls and together with Mike Widdowson taking 22 off the first over.  By the third over the run rate began to slip behind the asking rate and despite good knocks from the openers and James Widdowson the 30 runs required off the last over proved too tall an order despite some generous bowling !

Reversed batting orders and the Youngsters batting first was the plan for the second match where the lessons of the first match had clearly been learned by the Kids, even Richie's crazy singles were not quite so outrageous.  James, Richie, Tim and Stef all reached the retirement score of 25 and later returned to set up a very tough target of 150.  A tough target became more distant when Dominic followed Gordon in losing his wicket in the first 3 overs.  Jeremy began to increase the run rate however Paul replaced Ian when the third wicket fell before the end of the 6th over.  Jeremy and Paul batted well through the middle of the innings pushing "singles" into the gaps in the field and the run rate soon got ahead of the target.  In the final analysis Wides together with Paul's personal tally of 36 took the Old-timers to victory with 4 balls to spare. 

Many thanks to Judith for keeping tally of the 597 runs scored in the two matches !