The 1st game of the new season and typically it was raining. Shireoaks won the toss and elected to bat. The game was played on the artificial strip. Jamie Fellows and Matt Linacre opened and a steady start was made. Matt made the breakthrough clean bowling Dosanju for a duck. Not to be outdone Jamie quickly added the wicket of R Watts the next over bringing the score to 19-2. This brought Jez bates to the wicket. Matt dismissed (again bowled) the other opener (M Fox) the 8th over for 17. Bates was clearly in form and the weather had no effect as he continued to score throughout the rest of the innings. A change of tactics saw the introduction of Linacre senior and Walker. Jamie finished with a creditable 6-18-1 Linacre was his usual miserly self and finished with 4 overs for 5 runs and was unlucky not to take a wicket, as was Walker who tempted the batsman and ended with 5-23-0. Luke Clarkson had 3 overs and picked up a wicket in 1st and 3rd over Allen caught by Linacre for 17 and Blewburry unlucky trapped on the second bounce LBW. Joe Kinsey was having a hard time the other end with no help from the wicket and relied upon accuracy but ended 6-30-0 Luke Mallen was back with vengeance bowling quick and straight. At one point was on for the hat trick having clean-bowled Baker for 7 then Thomas LBW next ball. He picked up his 3rd well-deserved wicket next over again bowling Barnes for 2(wicket maiden). Greveson and Matt Linacre finished the innings and Greveson had Dewberry Caught by Linacre Snr finishing 3-10-1 whilst Matt took a bit of tap the other end from Bates who played an excellent innings for 95 n.o. although dropped off the second last ball. Matt finished with a good 7-2-39-2.