Phoenix won by 8 wickets.
A simply sensational start to the season with contributions from every single player donning the shiny new Hill sponsored shirts.
With Gareth and Dave absent Damon resumed the captaincy and Nick donned the keeper’s gloves as Anglian made first use of a lively strip.
Simon and Jeff opened the bowling – and had three Anglian men back in the hutch cheaply, including the skipper.Anglian’s number three pinned their innings together with an impressive unbeaten 28 but he was the only visitor who truly mastered the surface.
Alex pulled off an instant catch of the season in the deep off his dad at the cost of a twisted ankle, which prevented him bowling.
But it didn’t hinder us as we continued to chip away at their innings, with Stuart and Nusrat taking a wicket apiece thanks to their nagging accuracy.
The tail, aided by double agent for the day Matt, wagged until the Fixtures Secretary returned to clean up the final three wickets, which included a fine catch at the second attempt by Stuart and a straightforward one by Nusrat to put an end to Matt’s dastardly resistance.
A total of 84 didn’t look daunting but on our pitch you never know yet Tim and Jeff played positively from the off, the scoreboard never stopped moving and the introduction of Aidan first wicket down proved to be decisive. He produced an imperious knock in which he looked comfortable throughout and signed off with a mighty six.
Peter and the skipper were left with the task of knocking off the remaining runs; Peter ended with an unbeaten 10 – a straight-driven four and a massive straight-driven six.
A very pleasing (delayed) start to the season.
Anglian Water
Pegg b Lancaster 4
Edevane b Wilson 0
Delucchi not out 28
Budworth b Wilson 2
Calvert c A West b J West 4
Harrison b S Creed 0
Bevan lbw b Hamid 0
Dobson c Hamid b J West 10
Walker b J West 14
Watts c S Creed b J West 0
Extras 24
Total: 84 all out in 16 overs
Lancaster 3-0-6-1
Wilson 2-0-5-2
J West 4-0-16-4
S Creed 3-0-10-1
Hamid 3-0-17-1
Harrison 2-0-16-0
Swain 1-0-9-0
Stapleford Phoenix
Harrison b Walker 17
Wilson c? b Budworth 12
Swain retired not out 27
P Creed not out 10
Rainsford not out 5
Extras 15
Total: 86-2 in 16 overs