Bashley hosted Calmore for the first friendly of the season and elected to bat first on a decent but slightly damp bashley wicket, an amazing effort by the grounds team to even get it on considering recent poor weather. A combination of good bowling, new ball and slow outfield made scoring difficult early on. Bashley lost wickets in groups, with Greg Havard, Josh Digby and James Underwood falling to leave Bahsley at 14-3. Jay van Wyk hit the first boundary of the innings but also fell and Bashley slumped to 27-4. Two more wickets were lost but then the first real partnership emerged when Tom Jacques and Paul Kemp got their heads down and dug in putting on 38 and getting Bashley to 84-7 when Jacques holed out for a battling 34. Kemp continued to dig in, Scott went quickly but when captain Grierson joined Kemp the runs started to flow and the two put on 52, with Grierson’s class eminent scoring 37 off 24 on the counterattack and Kemp eventually running himself out for a fine 23, Bashley closed on 145 all out, Proudley 3-23 the pick of the bowlers.

The Calmore reply started more briskly than Bashley but they also lost early wickets thanks to excellent bowling spells from Jason Eede 3-19 and Pierre Van Wyk 2-9 who was swinging the ball round corners, Calmore were 25-5 when Sam Scott was brought into the attack who returned a frugal 1-7 from 6 overs. Grierson bowled consistently without luck and when Digby 2-16 and Simon Morris 1-21 were brought into the attack the dangerous Proudley fell for a decent 31 (60). A team run out for the final wicket by Digby, Underwood and Harvard left Calmore all out for 106, with Hurst unbeaten on 25. A good fielding performance from Bashley and stand in keeper Jay Van Wyk showing some excellent glovework. Good signs for the season and a competitive friendly.