Falkland 5s got their Div 10a campaign off to a start at Windsor on a hot and blustery day in the shadow of Windsor Castle.

Winning the toss, the home captain chose to bat first on a dry track which looked ripe for runs. R Whitmore struck early on with the score on 2 before taking 2 wickets in 2 balls with the score on 45. Young J Pilbrow took a wicket with his first ball for the 5th XI, but the Windsor middle order were starting to accelerate the run rate. Turning to spin after the drinks break brought 3 wickets for I Storrar, but with Windsor heading towards the 200 mark, a return to pace was needed. T Colby picked up 3 quick wickets at the death and closed out the Windsor innings in the 38th over for 229.

A tough run chase was made harder with the early loss of M Robertshaw with the Falkland score on 12 followed 2 balls later by I White. I Storrar and A Ramamurthy followed shortly after with Falkland teetering on 43 for 4. R Whitmore helped to steady the ship with a measured innings and with T Colby peppering the boundary, the Falkland score started to move in the right direction. Z Afridi and F Robertshaw frustrated at the tail of the innings with a great 50 partnership, but the target was always too much for 10-man Falkland and Windsor took the final wicket with the score on 146.

Some great positives to take from the first game despite the loss with youngsters making their debuts and the start of building a new team. Bring on Bracknell United next week.......

Report by Tim Colby
Pictured: The inaugural Falkland 5th XI