3rds are hot stuff!

It's always good to travel when you know the weather is going to be perfect for the match, and today's wonderful sunshine brought the best out of the 3s as they put it an almost-faultless performance to go through in the Jack Gardner Trophy T20.

Originally a group of four, the mini-group became three when Bowdon were put into a new group after another club were permitted a late entry. Nantwich then chose to concede both of their fixtures which left today's match as the only one in the mini-group, with the winner going through. So at least it was a simple enough equation, and with Grappenhall's ground in its customary superb condition everything was set fair for a good tussle, with both sides coming off the back of big wins in their league fixtures 24 hours previous.

Ryan called correctly and then chose (correctly) to bat first - never easy fielding in the hottest part of the day. With 8 changes to the side that beat Stockport, the 3rds put an excellent innings together, only debutant Jason Jeffery missing out (although he atoned later with a brilliant catch). Michael Taylor again passed 50 in good time, adding 45 with the energetic James Micklethwaite, before young Louis strode in and played the decisive innings, his 61 off 36 even more impressive in the high temperatures. Grappenhall paid the price for putting down four catches, including missing Louis on 31, and Ringo's 14 ball cameo rounded off a great team effort - 101 off the last 10, 59 off the last 5 - and left the hosts contemplating 172 at almost 9 an over.

Any hopes they had of having a real tilt at victory were dealt an immediate blow by a superb four overs from George Poyser, his 3 wickets including that of Richard Holden (who had made 96 the day before) whose powerful cover drive was held really well by Jason. The Grappers middle order tried to get going, and 28 off 2 overs at the midpoint gave them some cheer, but DB and Manu quickly restored order, the latter's skimming pace proving almost impossible to time. He was a whisker away from a hat-trick at one point as Didsbury restricted the hosts to just 8 fours and 1 six (compared to the 18 and 3 they themselves managed when batting).

I said it was an almost faultless performance, my only concern being the 20 extras (including 15 wides) donated to Grappenhall. The fact that this was the second highest score on their card puts it into perspective, but it's an area that can be tightened up. Mind you, given the drawn-out nature of the 3rd XI T20, it's not something that the y will get much practice at - the quarters have to be played at some point by the end of July and finals day is then on September 9th! Clearly the lessons of last year's farcical finals day have not been learned, but I will save my salvo on this subject for another time and place and instead congratulate all the boys on today.