Successful chase the inaugural T20 against St Paul's

St Paul's XI 95-5

Jesters CC 96-6

The Jesters were warmly welcomed to our first game - a Twenty20 thrash - at the birthplace of the Club way back in the 1920s. The St Paul’s School All Stars were a mix of staff, both male & female, who played with a jovial but competitive spirit.

James Richards, skippering a Jesters side for the first time, duly started with a lost toss forcing us into the field on a warm Wednesday evening. With an embarrassment of bowling, we were able to allow all fielders bar the keeper (Richards) and Sachin Rawson to turn their arm over. Stalwarts Dan Hayes, Nick Mumby and Iliya Krunic all did their bit, Dan getting us off to the perfect start with a wicket maiden in the first over. And there was an explosive debut for Cambridge blue Tom Probert - his very first delivery was a snorter that lifted off a good length and over the keeper for four byes. He quickly recalibrated and stumps were splattered! Honourable mentions also to Phil Berman, Matt Griffiths and a returning Ed Willis for tidy spells.

St Paul's were restricted to just 95 off their allotted 20 overs, the innings held together by a fine half century from skipper Simon Roberts, who, luckily for us, retired once reaching his fifty.

Wanting to make a good game of it, or perhaps an inability to get it off the square, we made a steady/stodgy start - 'Viv' Richards (or perhaps Boycott) took 17 balls to get off the mark and Sachin was snared unusually early behind the wicket. As we fell behind the rate, it took some fine hitting from the second debutant Sam Eyre to turn things around. After a mini-collapse, Jake Smyth saw us home with four wickets to spare.

Thanks to St Paul's for their hospitality in a beautiful setting on the river, a great new fixture!