7th June - 2nd XI v Blackheath

The 2nd XI welcomed Blackheath to The Vine with the prospect of a full cricket match slim due to forecast heavy rain, both captains agreed on a reduced 30 overs a side game and following that Willis won the toss for the Vine as asked Blackheath to bat.

Some tight bowling to start from Cooper-Fogarty (2-8) and Van Der Westhuizen (1-22) along with wickets in the 2nd and 3rd overs meant that Blackheath were kept to 25-3 in the first 10 overs. This continued and after 20 overs Blackheath were 67-4 following tight spells from Bowden (1-33) and Bromley (1-26). In their final 10 Blackheath upped the rate but with good fielding and bowling The Vine managed to restrict them to 129-6 in their 30 overs. 

With rain looking more and more likely Willis and Piper walked to the crease to open the batting in response. Vine skipper Willis took the attack to Blackheath in a hope to set the tone and make a dent in the total and achieve a win before the rain came. He fell in the 8th over for 43 off 23 balls and along with Piper (20) set the Vine off to a great start. A few wickets then fell and at the halfway stage of the reply the Vine were 88-4 off 15 overs. Some more tight bowling kept the Vine restricted until in the 26th over needing 21 to win Bowden (39) hit two consecutive 6s to reduce the deficit. First ball of the 28th over Bowden fell followed by Cooper-Fogarty which left the Vine 125-9 and Blackheath needing 1 wicket to win. Dickerson walked out and first ball hit a single to reduce it to 4, Bromley (7*) then struck a 4 through point to win the game for the Vine with 2 overs to spare!

A hard-fought win which kept the 2nd XIs unbeaten run going and they now sit 23 points clear at the top of the table with 5 wins from 5