Ealing CC 2nd XI Beat neighbors Acton CC 2nd XI

On the hottest day of the year, Ealing welcomed Acton to Corfton Road. With stand-in skipper Holt losing the toss, Ealing were asked to field.

Fell and Rowley opened up for the E-men, and minus an occasional loose delivery, bowled tightly, restricting the visitors to 30 after the first 10.

With a flat deck and rapid outfield, it was up to the Ealing bowlers to restrict where possible, rather than looking for regular wickets. With the score 92-0 at drinks, it felt honours even. From then on, regular wickets fell, with Faraz, Rowley and O. Dewhurst claiming two apiece.

Chasing 176 (mainly thanks to 94 from Hunt), new opening pairing of Shaw and O’Malley set about the chase. Following two wonderful drives, O’Malley missed a straight one and the boys lost their first.

Ashok (19) joined Shaw and began to build. A 46 run partnership edging the home side nearer to a fourth straight victory. With Ashok falling, the score on 54, there were rekindled feelings of Hampstead two weeks previously.

However, fresh to the crease A. Dewhurst constructed one of the more delightful innings most had seen, and with Shaw playing nicely for his 67, it was only a matter of when, not if, we would see it home.

Tattersall (13*) joined A. Dewhurst (61*) for the final few runs and Ealing eased home, reaching their target with 5 overs to spare.

Four from four and the E-men travel to Richmond looking to make it a clean sweep for the first set of limited overs games.

Alex Fell