After back-to-back wins in 40 over games, the shorter format faced 4th team captain Phil Berry’s men on a chilly April evening at Toft. Alvanley were the visitors for this 20\20 encounter, where they wouldn’t have to face the prospect of facing wicket-keeper batsman Andrew Jackson, who sat this one out with a broken finger.

Berry has had some luck with the toss this summer, and his fortune continued as he hastily inserted the visitors. A decision which looked a dubious one, as the opposition batsman were ready for an onslaught on the Toft attack.

Matty Walker is an energetic individual and he steamed in economically from one end, but was wicketless. At the other end, Simon Donald bustled in with limited success, and he was withdrawn from the attack after a couple of expensive overs. Alvanley were well set, at around 60 for no loss off 10 overs.

Berry demanded control, and turned to his spin duo of the experienced Pete Gibbon, and the fatigued figure of Chris Bongard, who had played a level higher the weekend before. The skipper got the results he wanted, as the pair were both threatening and thrifty. Bongard picked up his first wicket of the season for the team thanks to a smart catch from a disgruntled Donald. The Alvenley batsman beat his pads in frustration, as Donald pumped the air with delight.

Now the scoring rate was back under control, Berry utilised the hero of last week, Phil Raffo, along with the nous of Toft stalwart, Peter Taylor. Both picked up wickets, with Taylor pouching a catch off his own bowling.

Some lusty blows in the final overs followed, before the innings closed with the visitors posting 141/3 from their 20 overs.

With the light diminishing, the turnaround was brisk. Berry mused over his batting order with a tinge of anxiety in his mind, and the steam from his half time cuppa on his cheeks. After some deliberation, he selected James McNamara & Fraser Prest to open up.

McNamara is a much improved batsman, able to mix his defensive game with some hard hitting, and he had some success against a mediocre attack. However, wickets tumbled around him. Messers Prest, Carter & Donald all came and went for only a couple of runs between them, leaving McNamara a disconsolate figure out on his own in the distance on pitch 14. Toft were teetering precariously at 20/3 and in trouble.

Skipper Berry then joined him in at the crease, eager to contribute with the bat after a series of single figure scores fraught with frustration. After McNamara was bowled for 22, Berry played nicely, contributing a very handy 27, including a steepling six over square leg. Chris Bongard joined him and dealt almost solely in singles as he rotated the strike skilfully.

When Berry perished, followed quickly by Peter Taylor, Phil Raffo removed his bright orange jacket, and out to the middle he strode in gathering gloom. Ably assisted by Bongard, who was wilting in the heat due to his choice of apparel, Toft put themselves in with a chance. Raffo, still sprightly after last week’s knock, contributed 30 more as the Toft dressing room began to believe the impossible was possible once more, leaving around 30 required from the final 3 overs.

Bongard was playing sensibly, but was unlucky to find the fielders with irritating regularity. When Raffo departed, Bongard was joined by Walker, who upped the rate once more.

Ultimately, Toft fell 12 runs short of their target, and suffered their first defeat of the campaign. With the Bank Holiday game on Sunday called off, the club will have to wait for the eagerly anticipated large till receipts that they accumulate from an expectant crowd. However, Berry shiftily hinted at another 20\20 fixture in a weeks time, when he will be looking to avenge this defeat, however courageous it was….

The team continue to improve, and if it’s entertainment you seek – look no further.