Steve Atherton produced a superb individual display against Birchanger on Saturday but his heroics with both the bat and the ball were not enough to secure Chesterfords first win of the League season.

Chesterfords lost the toss and were put into bat. They soon found themselves in real trouble after J.lipscombe was bowled by the second ball of the match as he misjudged a short ball that hit the top of off stump. Tim Lewis, the other opener, went on 2 after a ball that kept low as he attempted a pull shot. On 32 for 2 Chesterfords were struggling and they badly needed to rebuild their innings. Steven Atherton and David Perring batted patiently against the accurate off spin of Edwards and the medium pace of Ahmed. Both batsmen looked at ease on a very difficult track that constantly offered uneven bounce. Atherton drove and cut the ball superbly whilst Perring was constantly looking to keep the scoreboard moving with intelligent shot selection and run taking. Both batsmen were unlucky to be out as Chesterfords pushed the score over the 130 mark. Perring was bowled by Ager by a ball that turned along way and kept low, just 5 short of his half century. Atherton was next to go on 49 after he was bowled by a well flighted ball that deceived him. Chesterfords should have secured a total between 200 and 220 however, thanks to Ager’s 5 wickets, Birchanger fought back. Chesterfords middle order put in a woeful batting display adding only 52 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. Ager finished with 5 for 25 as Chesterfords limped to 185 all out.    

Chesterfords bowled well creating many wicket taking opportunities in the first 10 overs but they just couldn’t make a breakthrough. P. Clarkson bowled with pace and aggression and was unlucky not to make a breakthrough.  Birchanger held on however and soon found their feet. M Edwards batted very well and after a few early scares J. Gladwin started to time the ball and find the boundary. Chesterfords needed a break through and they found it in the form of Steven Atherton. The slow left arm bowler bowled a superb spell in which ripped through the Birchanger middle order. He bowled with control and intelligence as he choked the run rate. He took 5 wickets for a poultry 15 runs in a spell that mesmerised the Birchanger batsmen and took Chesterfords to the brink of victory. Unfortunately, once again, it was not to be. Birchanger showed resolve and heart as they intelligently chased down Chesterfords total.  The game was disappointingly lost in the 43^rd over with Birchanger taking the victory by 3 wickets.