Under blue skies and warm April sunshine Shireshead were asked to field first with Luke Bray and Paul Yates sharing new ball duties. Bray (1-22), whose start was somewhat wayward settled into the groove to deliver a challenging passage of inswing picking up the wicket of Sam Fletcher (2) in the process.

Whilst Bray settled into his groove, Yates showed that he’s never left his. 12 overs of metronomic bowling tore through the heart of the middle order with Yates returning a career best (according to play cricket) of 5-17 supported by the capable hands of Murphy, Gould (J) and Gould (S).

If the Shireshead Oscar for ‘best bowling’ went to Yates then that of best bowler in a supporting role had to go to Andy Weir (3-5). In his first outing of the season,  Weir’s stump to stump line saw off the lower middle order before he stepped aside to give youth a go allowing returnee Wil Greenwood to mop up number 10 and close the innings.

A picnic in the sunshine, a glass of vino for the skipper and a summation of what fines were due to be paid for misfields, dropped catches and unmentionables and play resumed. Adam Murphy and Gareth Bleasdale starting out for the middle. Murphy continued where he left off last week; anchoring proceedings with 21 not out as Windermere picked up some consolation wickets with Bleasdale (10), Gould (6) and Mead (6) the men out before Gould (S) swatted a high ball for four to seal a 12 point victory.