New boys Clayhill Dragon Slayers continued their improvement in the run up to their debut season and Sway II found the going far from easy despite eventually running out victors by 32 runs.

Sway lost the toss and were put in to bat and got off to a good start with Rob Steadman and Rick How working the ball nicely. Although Steadman was eventually bowled for 22, he was replaced by Ross Clark (25*) who continued the good work. Sway then lost 2 relatively quick  wickets - firstly How was c&b for 26 then skipper Dave Marshall was bowled for just 1 attempting a nurdle - not a shot he will try again! Marshall was replaced by the (over) confident young Frenchman, FJ Charton who played well for his 19 before being run out. Perennial rabbit Matt Bramwell found some form with the bat making 12* as Sway eventually ran up a total of 157-4.

In reply Clayhill got off to an excellent start with an excellent and aggressive partnership between Justin Hannom and Steve Thompson both of whom were soon retired. Sway then struck when Lee Roberts was run out for a duck and Rob Steadman  bowled Scott Sharpe for 20. Clayhill were now beginning to get behind the run rate, finding it more difficult to smash the Sway medium pacers of Marshall and Clark.  Wicket hungry Marshall rather foolishly managed to bowl  Matt Hicks for a duck which brought Hannom back in, but by this point, barring a disaster of Sway III proportions, the game was one and Rob Steadman and Matt Bramwell finished their decent spells to leave Clayhill 32 runs short. Nevertheless it was a much improved performance from Clayhill especially with the bat - if they can tighten up the bowling (55 in extras) they will be winning games.

Sway    157-4    

ROB    22 bowled McNally   

RICK  26 ct + bwd  Hannom   

ROSS   25 RTD    

DM   1  bwd Sharpe    

PIEMASTER    19  run out   

BRAMMERS    12 N.O   

EXTRAS   52          

JUSTIN HANNOM   1-38    

STEVE THOMPSON   0-43    

ADAM McNALLY  1-35   

SCOTT SHARPE   1-37

 
CLAYHILL   125-5    

HANNOM   39 run out   

THOMPSON  34 N.O   

McNALLY   0 run out   

SHARPE    20  bwd Steadman   

LEE ROBERTS   0  run out     

MATT HICKS   0  bwd Marshall    

EXTRAS  32         

Rob  3-0-1-36   3 wides     

Matt     3-0-0-29     2 wides 1 no ball      

Ross   3-0-0-34   3 wides   

DM   3-0-1-25   2 wides.