Bishop's Waltham were comfortable winners when they entertained fellow promotees IBM Hursley at Albany Road on a day when veterans took centre stage.
Etienne Rademaker and Tony Adams of IBM and the home side's Ron Harvey all made significant contributions with the bat on a track which played better than it looked.
IBM openers Etienne Rademaker and Steve Chandler started at four an over - until Steve Enfield had Chandler caught in the slips fending off a short-pitched delivery. Jon Dunlea, bowling with passion and control, clipped number three Mike Pollard's off stump to leave IBM 19-2 after eight overs. Incoming batsman Tony Adams and Rademaker then compiled an excellent 87 run partnership with the latter punishing some indifferent bowling by the Waltham attack.
Rademaker scored 63 valuable runs before a tired looking shot was well caught by Ben Simpson off James Logan. Adams worked the ball all around the wicket and frustrated the Waltham attack all afternoon as he went on to complete his half-century, finishing on 66 not out. None of the Waltham bowlers performed particularly well and their poor fielding certainly added to the final total of 175 for 5 off 45 overs.
Waltham's innings was based around two significant partnerships, both involving veteran left-hander Ron Harvey. He and Rob Bailey put on 66 for the second wicket, with Bailey timing the ball particularly well with pushes and flicks to compile a patient 37 before he mis-timed a hook shot and was easily caught off the bowling of Sean Adams.
Harvey and Dave Oddie then set about the IBM attack, which was depleted when Rademaker pulled up injured after three balls. Oddie scored 39 of 82 runs in 15 overs before he was clean-bowled by Weaver. Stuart Bailey (16no) and Harvey completed the formalities with Harvey fittingly scoring the winning run to close on an unbeaten 59 as Waltham reached their target with six wickets to spare.
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