PENTON 1st XI started their new season in Hants County Division Two with a distinct feeling of dj vu (reports Mike Wells).

Rob Rasey, captaining the side for the first time, lost the toss and found his team batting on a drying Whitchurch wicket. The Whitchurch opening bowlers Ahmed Bawa and Eddy Trebble (4-18) both bowled well with control and movement, and it wasn't long before openers Roy Burch (8) and Mick Vince (4) were back in the pavilion.

Mark Gibbs (58no) was involved in partnerships of 27, 30 and 36 taking the score above 100 but each time he got going his partner got out. Gibbs held the innings together and without him the score would have been a lot less than 128-7, Chris Rasey (16) was the only other batsman to make double figures.

Although not fully satisfied with their batting performance the Penton side thought that the score was a fair early season total, especially with an uncut outfield. However, the Penton bowlers put paid to any hopes of a victory as Geoff Williams (73), who rode his luck early on, and South African Vaughan Van Berkel (42no) both helped themselves to a tasty array of 'buffet' bowling. Van Berkel hit three successive sixes off Roy Burch (1-46) to ease past their target. Rob Rasey (1-36) was the other wicket-taker as Whitchurch won by eight wickets.

Penton 2nd XI could only muster eight players and in the end cancelled their fixture. It isn't the first time the team have found themselves in this position and the way village cricket is dying, it won't be the last.