Warwick began the first of our two cup campaigns with a victory against Denstone which was decisive, but less clear than it ought to have been.

After the opposition won the toss, they decided to bat first under hot and sunny conditions. In stark contrast with Saturday, Wye’s first ball was cut decisively to the boundary for four, marking a strong start by Denstone as they struck 16 runs from the first two overs. Though our opening bowlers then began to re-establish a degree of control, both of them saw catches put down off their bowling as the dangerous looking Edwards raced to 23. The key moment came when Budd dropped slightly short and Edwards played a short-armed jab to Vitty at mid on. In truth it was a soft wicket, but it changed the course of the game. 30-0 after 5.4 overs quickly became 34-3 after 9 overs. Gupta removed the other opener with his first ball, a catch gently dollied up to Budd at cover point, whilst Vitty (4-0-10-1), bowling very tightly, had the number three nick off for a duck. Denstone began to rebuild, but at the half way stage they had reached just 55-3. After the drinks break, they managed to strike 19 from Evans’ three overs, but Dunlop was giving nothing away at the other end. He received his deserved rewards in his third and sixth overs, removing both set batsmen. The first, worn down by long overs of not being able to accelerate the scoring, lost patience and went for an ugly shot across the line to be bowled. The second was a top-edged sweep that flew straight up to Robertson behind the stumps. Dunlop finished with the phenomenal figures of six overs, two maidens, two wickets for six runs. With five overs to go Denstone were still short of the hundred runs marks. They were able to take 14 off Davis’ two overs, but the returning Gupta conceded just one from his fifth over, and Grundy just three runs from five balls when the heavens opened, and the peal of thunder rang out across a cricket field that had so recently been bathed in sun. We lost around eighty minutes of play, but the break in the weather did little to break our concentration. Grundy finished his two over burst conceding just eight runs, whilst Gupta (6-0-20-1) finished tightly before handing the ball to Budd (4-0-15-2) for the final over. Just three singles, a bye and a wicket came from them (an up-ish drive being caught well at cover) leaving the visitors well below par with a score of 112-6 from 30 overs. It was a credit to our bowlers that we had restricted the opposition to a run rate of below four in a cup game of such magnitude.

Warwick’s reply began confidently through the in-form opening pair of Dunning and Gupta. They took 23 runs off the first three overs, including 13 (with four wides) from the second opening bowler, Emmerson: a sweetly struck on drive by Gupta being a particular highlight. After such a loose first over it was a surprise to see him given a second, but he was, and it proved a wise decision as he removed Gupta and Dunning in the space of four balls. Perhaps lulled by the previous inaccuracy Gupta (10) drove loosely to a good delivery that swung back between bat and pad to clean bowl him. Dunning (9) faced a similar ball and though he looked to play it more defensively the movement of the ball took it past his defensive shot and cannoned into his pads. The finger went up and we were 29-2. Thomas came in and after a couple of airy shots he settled down and steadied the ship, supported by Vitty. They were nearing the fifty partnership when Vitty inexplicably went back to pull a ball that was far too full from the off spinner and was bowled for eight: 75-3. May looked very tidy and organised, and he and Henry took us to within touching distance of victory, scoring freely and looking secure at the crease. With just 18 runs needed and Thomas eyeing up a first half century of the season, he was a little unfortunate to toe-end a pull and was caught for an excellent 40. That should have been the end of the wickets but May unwisely tried to clear the longest boundary to win the game, instead picking out deep midwicket and departing for 15. Wye and Robertson took the scores level before Wye top-edged a slog sweep and also had to go.

Whilst we never looked likely to lose the game, we really could, and should, have been more ruthless in chasing down such a low total without the loss of six wickets. Overall, however, this was a clear victory and it sees us progress to the next round against Norwich (who thankfully will have the long journey from East Anglia, rather than the other way around).

Man-of-the-match: Dunlop for his excellent bowling performance of 6-2-6-2.

Champagne moment: Gupta’s super on drive, a shot rarely played at this level, and even more rarely played so well.