Spelthorne Sports 134 all out (33.3 overs) (Aditya Singhal 3-31, Phil Robson 2-8, Stuart Palmer 2-25). Egham Roses 136-3 (27.3 overs) (Toby Morris 33, Matt Whitehorn 28 not out, Stuart Palmer 26 not out). Egham Roses won by seven wickets (35-over game).

Much has been made of English professional cricket’s obsession with Bazball in recent years. Here at the grass roots, however, this was very much a day of attritional cricket; Boycsball, perhaps. (One for the teenagers, of whom Roses had several making their debuts).

A combination of a green wicket and some cloud cover persuaded skipper Matt Whitehorn to field first, having won the toss. This proved to be a good decision, as the Spelthorne Sports batters struggled to score at more than four an over throughout most of their innings.

Bowling highlights included a parsimonious return for opener Joseph Robson, a brace for his dad Phil, three wickets for Aditya Singhal in only his third adult match, and two wickets for the evergreen Stuart Palmer. The Roses attack coped well with a surprisingly cold wind, which persisted throughout an ostensibly sunny day.

After tea, Roses opened with Josh Frith and Ryan Sehra. Frith was unfortunate to be run out when looking confident, but Toby Morris came in at three to play a mature innings, keeping Roses ahead of the required run rate. Morris’s dismissal brought Palmer to the crease to join his skipper, and the pair scored well against a variety of bowling to ease Roses home.