Newly promoted Charlton Down opened their Saturday League Division 2 season with a comprehensive eight wicket defeat to a strong Marnhull team. Marnhull captain James Vitali produced a match winning performance of taking 3-20, a catch and then 90 not out to secure victory.
After winning the toss a depleted Charlton Down elected to bat and Matt Lovell and Jae Miller punished any short bowling and moved the score quickly onto 38 after only six overs before Stuart Cundy took an amazing one handed catch in the slips to remove Miller for 20 off Zack Caunt(2-33).
Only four runs later Lovell was yorked by Caunt for 4 with the score on 42-2. It was soon 45-3 when Dan Stevens was bowled by the experienced Edwin Ralph (3-30).
Charlton then looked to have turned the game their way with Sam Roles(44) and Kim Park batting beautifully dispatching balls to the boundary on regular intervals.
It was the Marnhull captain James Vitali (3-30) who struck twice in two overs to reduce Charlton from 110-3 to 119-6. Firstly he bowled Park for 16 bringing the partnership of 68 to an end and then had Javed Gill caught by Dorset Over 50’s wicketkeeper Tim Horn. Horn produced a fine performance behind the stumps.
Stuart Cundy had the dangerous Sam Roles caught by Max Ritchie at deep mid on for 44 which included 5 fours and a six.
Edwin Ralph came back into the attack and used his experience to remove both fifteen year old debutants Keiran Heath(4) and Lewis Harrington and Sid Dunford (15) with the score remaining on 132-9.
A stubborn partnership of 23 between Rich Fagence(1) and Tommy Tucker(9) added 23 runes before the returning Vitali struck to have Tucker leg before and leave Charlton on 155 all out in only 37 overs.
The Marnhull response got off to a flyer with 24 coming from the first two overs and they never looked back. Miller struck to have Harkin caught by the greatful Dunford at extra cover for 7 with the score on 34-1. Vitali 90(no) and Harkin(30) batted well both gave opportunities which were not taken by the Charlton Down fielders including Vitali when on 57. Harkin was out leg before wicket off Kim Park (1-28) with the score on 118-2 and ended a fine partnership of 87.
It was fitting for Vitali to score the winning runs and carry his bat for an unbeaten 90 not out and secure the victory for Marnhull.