Tuesday 25 July 2017 saw us bring home the Dowdeswell Cup when the Cougars evening league team beat Bromyard by 25 runs on a surprisingly bright and sunny North End Lane ground - home of Barnards Green CC - surprising because the village somehow escaped a 30 minute deluge which put the surrounding areas under water.

Skipper Steve Winstanley decided to bat and our opening pair were separated in the very first over when Joe Worthington set off for an ambitious second run only to be well run out by a fine throw from Bromyards Jacob Redsull. Bromyard youthful bowling attack continued to apply the pressure and our wickets were falling at a consistent rate. At the end of the 9th over we were 97 - 6 with Benny Ware scoring 32 and Chris Jones forced into retirement on 53* having achieved the evening leagues maximum. At this late stage of the innings Bromyard spread their fielders out and with some athleticism defended the boundary rope quite resolutely but our tail end batsmen managed to amass 51 runs off the last three overs of the innings.

Bromyard in return took to the field and they too lost their first wicket in the first over when Adam Baker bowled Bolton out for a duck. The other opener, Mike Green, however was unperturbed and he crashed the ball about the ground with some hefty blows in a belligerent knock of 30 from 18 balls. Together with Martin Reece-Pitt, these two put on the majority of Bromyards reply with none of the other batsmen achieving double figures. It should be mentioned here that Steve Winstanley took what will probably be the Club's catch of the season to dismiss Reece-Pitt (who was on 49) out on the very edge of the long on boundary with a spiralling, twisting one handed catch!

Chris Jones was named Man of the Match by the Match Referee for his violent 53* knock which came off a paltry 28 balls.

Next up: The Thompson Cup final against Hallow CC at Regency Rd, Malvern - the scene of our 9 wicket demolition of Malvern CC last week.