Sunday’s hosting of Rowledge saw another thrilling encounter, week after week games have come down to the 
last over with runs and wickets galore to entertain the watching hoards.

Skipper Swift won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat first on a flat track in sweltering 
heat. Openers Vallis and Hooper began innings but their partnership was shortlived as Vallis was caught 
at gully off of the fifth ball of the innings without scoring. The out of form Swift entered the fray 
joining Hooper and the innings started steadily as the pair played themselves in. Swift began to apply 
pressure on the bowlers and moved the score along as the dogged Hooper was happy to play the supporting 
role. Whilst the timing was rarely good Swift’s shot selection became more expansive and the gaps were 
beginning to be found. Swift passed 50 as the partnership moved along, Hooper happy to feed Swift the 
strike. The partnership moved passed the century at a decent rate and the pair forged onwards. Swift 
completed his century and ended up on 123 when falling with the partnership totalling 179 a record for a 
friendly fixture only bettered by Swift and Paul Buckingham’s unbeaten stand of 208 against Sherfield in 
2003. Swift’s innings included 23 fours and 2 sixes in a career best effort. Hooper followed shortly 
afterwards for a staunch 39 in a supporting role. Frost K looked solid until falling for 15, Paul Appleton
and Lewis Benge continued the onslaught before Benge fell on the penultimate ball of the innings for 27 
leaving Appleton 25 not out and Alan Poole 1 not out. Rotherwick amassed a grand total of 251 for 4, it 
looked a daunting total but the fireworks were just beginning.

Rowledge’s opening pair of Lintott and Penn blazed away from ball one, scoring at a helter skelter rate, 
reaching 50 off the 7th over and 100 in the 12th over with only Ali Hussain’s two wickets giving any 
respite to the home team. The onslaught continued unabated as the visitor’s passed 150 in the 19th over. 
As Rowledge entered the final 20 overs needing 110 with 8 wickets still standing. With Rotherwick’s 
unbeaten Sunday streak under severe threat, skipper Swift turned to Culver and the Sunday boys leading 
bowler Lewis Benge to attempt to stem the flow and turn the game ion the home teams favour. Culver and 
Benge combined to start the fightback, Culver snaring a catch at square leg to remove the dangerous Taylor 
for 77, Culver got in on the act by removing the No.5 and Benge brought Rotherwick right back into the 
game by removing Metcalfe with a fine juggling catch at long on for a well made 53. Rowledge still had 
the upper hand particularly as their overseas player, Laracy, was dropped on 0 by Cordery at deep mid 
wicket before bashing his way to 36. Cordery made amends for his earlier error by running out Laracy with 
a direct hit. Rotherwick’s other spin twin, Ince came to the party having Allen caught behind by Poole for 
13, a second run out accounted for Silver leaving the visitor’s skipper Lloyd to try and shepherd the 
tail through to victory. The game eased along to the point where Rowledge needed 18 off of 4 overs with 3 
wickets remaining. Swift then turned to Cordery to recover from the earlier battering he received. 
Cordery did not let his skipper down, his first over back was a maiden so the rate rose to a run a ball 
off the remaining three overs. The ever reliable Benge belied his tender years to bowl a tidy over only 
going for two singles to heighten the pressure of the run chase. Cordery’s final over also went for just 
two runs and included the 8th wicket of the innings. It was all down to Benge once again this season to 
be the hero or the villain with 12 needed to win or two wickets for a victory for the home side. The 
tension was heightened with the first ball disappearing over mid wicket for 4, it required a good response
and the yorker that followed bowling Ahmed was the perfect reply, Benge then forced the No.11 Watts to 
nick the ball to Vallis at slip for another memorable victory in a season that has thrilled the 
spectators and kept them on the edger of their seats in equal measure. Benge was once again the bowling 
star with figures of 11.3-1-53-4 with support from Hussain (2-48), Culver (1-34), Ince (1-42) and 
Cordery (1-61).

The unbeaten streak continues…