Saturday saw cricket resurrected at the spiritual home of Balearic cricket following the Easter recess.
The Mavericks based around the Repton area of South Derbyshire and Menorca tour virgins were the opposition.
Skipper Simon (Pete) Cotton duly elected to bat first following another successful toss.
Menorca’s batsman got us off to a steady yet careful start. Sturgeon in particular erring on the side of caution. When Hagger tickled one behind in the 10th over for 29 and the score on 40 Menorca needed to accelerate to post a competitive total. Joe Brayne contributed a useful run a ball 30 before he was caught and bowled by Bond. What followed was a batting masterclass by Cockroft jnr as he punished the Mavericks bowling hitting 67 including 9 4’s and 3 6’s. It was in stark contrast to Sturgeon’s more turgid and laborious occupation of the crease. Although, he did anchor the innings superbly to finish unbeaten on 74. Menorca posting 253/6 from their 40 overs.
The Mavericks reply never really got up with the required rate as they lost wickets steadily. There were useful contributions from opener Meynell 27, Gilby 38 and Wagstaff 37. Miserly opening spells from Hayden and skipper Cotton had the Mavericks middle order under pressure. Hagger picked up 3 wickets for 6 runs and there was a couple each for Cockroft senior and local clergyman Strudwick who was drafted in to the Saturday squad at short notice. Quite an achievement by the patella pounding preacher coming off the back of the busiest weekend in the ecclesiastical calendar.
Sunday saw a new format concocted where both sides batted twice their first innings being 20 overs and the second innings 11 overs scores were then combined.
Mavericks totalled 190 in their innings with good scores of 30 (ret) for Gilby and Everall. Menorca batted well in response and comfortably chased down the opposition total there were good contributions from Roussel snr, Wilson, and Husain who retired on 30.
Another terrific weekend at the home of Balearic cricket , lovely to welcome and make new acquaintances amongst the cricketing fraternity also.
Next week sees regular visitors Big West return for games on Saturday and Sunday with 13.30 starts
MENORCA CRICKET CLUB