CAPTAIN KATIE LEADS 3S TO OPENING VICTORY

After a frustrating week of abandonments and no chance of play for the 1sts on Saturday, the 3rd XI finally kicked off the 2023 season at Walshaw. A massive thanks must go to those involved in getting the game switched from an unfit Crompton Meadows to Sycamore Road - "get the game on" indeed.

Having won the toss, skipper Katie elected to bat, a move which initially looked to backfire with the Totty side sliding to 8-3 and then 25-4. However the game's defining innings then began to take shape with Katie stubbornly refusing to give up her wicket. Firstly with young Ruffers, and then through a 64 run partnership with the evergreen Si Marsh (30), our captain carried her bat for just shy of two hours to post 34 not out and lead the side to a more than competitive 126-6 in tricky conditions.

Young Jack Schoey then took the club's first wicket of the season, and with the wily campaigners Awais and Marshy (2-3 from 6 overs) their usual economical selves, the squeeze was well and truly put on the home side. The two young Jacks picked up four wickets and the Walshaw line up just couldn't get started, with only skipper Harvey Tammam getting into double figures. A rain break saw the target adjusted to 113, but this was never under threat. The home side closed on 66-7 from 26 overs, a superb effort from Katie's side.

The weather forecast is seemingly a little better in the coming week, so our 1sts and 2nds will be hoping to kick off their own campaigns next weekend - if they do half as well as Katie's crew we'll all be chuffed. Onwards and upwards.

To view scorecards from all our games, view the TSJ fixtures and results on CricHQ or check out our fixtures page.