Cublington second IX made a winning start to the 2024 season with a 50 run victory against MK City in what was always likely to be a low scoring encounter.

Fully expecting the game to be called off following a day of heavy rain MK City surprised even themselves in keeping the pitch ‘playable but interesting’ with pitch markings that left Harry Gadsby traumatized and in need of counseling. Realizing the wicket was not going to get any better Cublington decided runs on the board would be the best approach and elected to bat. With the ball doing plenty a few early wickets were followed by a gritty 70 run Fairhurst/ Lewis partnership that frustrated the opposition until both were out playing shots more becoming of a Canadian lumberjack.

Quick wickets fell from there on with the Cubs undone by early season cobwebs and a highly bowler friendly surface – all out for 105 which under the circumstances looked highly defendable.

And so it proved to be with openers Shetty and Hussain difficult to play from either end quickly reducing the opposition to 30 – 5 aided by two very neat catches at midwicket for young Sam Brown and a splendid one handed grab with the gloves by Cam Bullock . The back half of the MK City line up was then clinically dispatched by U15 opening bowler Muhammed Ali Yasir – all castled by his trademark inswinging delivery to give Cublington a 40 run victory.

Meanwhile the 1st IX had to look on from the boundary rope with the home fixture having been cancelled due to an unplayable outfield.

With the weather set fair for the forthcoming week we are hopeful of the ground drying adequately to allow both sides to play this weekend and junior training to start on Sunday.