1st XI 2024 review
Back in I'Anson Division Two
It is 'Mission Accomplished' for our men's 1st XI, who had a strong finish to their first season back in I'Anson Division 2. On finishing fifth, captain Joe Unwin said "This is exactly what we wanted from this season, to consolidate and to allow juniors to become a real, integral part of the team. Div 2 is more or less what we expected. We had more competitive games compared to last year. Our best game was our last of the season against Headley, Whitehill & Bordon. After scoring below par in the first innings, our bowling and fielding managed to claw the game back, winning by just four runs!"
There were some close defeats too, including against the eventual champions Puttenham. "We gave it everything in the field", said Joe, "but lacked runs with the bat. 10 or 20 more and the result will have been different. Since 2022, when we were relegated from Div 2, the team has really come together to create a positive atmosphere, where everyone enjoys each game, win or lose."
One of the new recruits this year was overseas player Saveen Gunarathne from New Zealand. Joe said "Saveen has been a great addition to the club and the 1st XI. He has offered a lot of insight into coaching and gameplay. He played well this season, almost topping the league wickets table. He very quickly became an integral part of the club and we hope he comes back next year."
