OLIVER DAVY MAIDEN FIFTY BUT 2ND XI LOSE:

Belhus 2nd XI 251-8. Old Brentwods 255-8:

In the seventh Hamro Foundation Essex League match of the season at North Stifford, our 2nd XI were surprisingly asked to bat first after Old Brentwoods had won the toss.

On a flat track in hot conditions, we lost a few early wickets, but opener  Afra Rose (28) partnered Alex Blake (92) to get us back in the game.  And then Oliver Davy, coming in at No. 9, struck his maiden fifty (59*) to take us up to a decent total of 251-8 from 50 overs after the six Old Brentwoods bowlers deployed shared the wickets.

After tea, OBs batted steadily with Shahid Iqbal (70), Asad Khan (52) and Abdul Manan (45*) proving our stumbling blocks, and although James Maynard captured 4 for 54 and Alex Blake held 3 outfield catches, we couldn't quite wriggle out their tail order and OBs marched home to a 2-wickets victory.

A good game.  Well played Old Brentwoods.

And our 2nd XI are perched in 2nd place in their Division.

Pictured: Oliver Davy