MALPAS suffered their first defeat of the County League season on Saturday, going down by five wickets at Brooklands in Division Two.
Put in to bat, Malpas made a steady start.
At 49-1 off 22 overs, they looked well set to make a challenging total on a pitch and outfield which was slow due to morning rain.
But a middle-order batting collapse, which saw six wickets lost for only 11 runs, saw those plans ruined. It was left to Dave Hunt (28), Mark Goldsmith (22no) and Adrian Stubbs (11) to see Malpas up to 121ao off 46.5 overs.
The start of Brooklands’ innings was dramatic.
In the first over, bowled by Mark Goldsmith, they were reduced to 0-2 after four balls, both catches going to wicket-keeper Keith Rickett.
The sixth ball saw Malpas appeal for another catch by Rickett against number four batsmen C Hart.
The decision was ‘not out’ and it proved to be a turning point in the game as Hart went on to bat for 130 minutes, face 129 balls and score 70 runs, helping Brooklands to a winning total of 122-5 off 38.1 overs. Goldsmith finished with 3-33 as Malpas took five points to Brooklands’ 20.
Malpas 2nds’ home match against Christleton 2ndswas abandoned without a ball bowled due to heavy rain.
