We have not played a full game at GKN since 2004 with rain ruling out our last three appearances. The long term radar also gave concern to this year’s fixture against a side from the Island. Herefordshire had withdrawn at the eleventh hour and we along with four other counties were very fortunate to have opponents – something not taken on board by some of our players. We arrived in overcast conditions and in the knowledge that the latest forecast gave continuous rain from around 3.00pm. We were therefore reassured by the suggestion from the organisers that with such a prediction today’s fixtures should be a Twenty20 contest. We readily agreed but unfortunately, as it transpired correctly, four counties wanted to play a full game so the 3.00pm circus matinee performance was put on hold. Having won the original toss and batted it was considered only fair, in light of the new arrangements, that the toss should be completed again (vital error although it still was the right thing to do) and we lost it and as it transpired any chance of winning the Festival as we were inserted. We needed to bowl out the Island quickly and then bat as soon as possible. The two injured players – Tidball and Parkin were not fully fit and it was decided not to use up any of Evenden’s remaining valuable overs and play him as a batter. A simple rule of any game is to take on what is put in front of you and do your best, not condemn the standard of the opposition which some arrogantly disappointing did. James Fletcher opened with a new partner – the under 14 captain Matt Thompson, they put on 16 when Fletcher was run out, Luke Bess and Thompson put on 4 when  Bess was caught and Debenham was bowled at the same score on his third ball. Twenty for three hopefully made some revise their thoughts. The best fourth wicket partnership of the season to date was 81 against Cornwall but Thompson and Tom Whittle surpassed this putting on 108 in twenty-eight overs. Thompson fell at 128 with Whittle passed his fifty. The promoted Shane Evenden, who was able to show his true batting skills in the Bob Bridges final on Bank Holiday Monday, lasted six balls. Thirty-five were added by Whittle and Eliot Acton when one short of his second county ton of the season Whittle chipped and was caught. He had batted 130 minutes facing only 110 balls and had hit fourteen fours and a six. The side all felt sympathy with this popular member of the squad who has achieved much this summer at sixteen’s and seventeen’s. Ninety-nine red balloons did however feature on the play list on the return journey. The captain was run out at 210 then two top finishers were at the crease as there was a further Smith and Buzza show – the stats - they put on 62 off 34 balls in 23 minutes (Smith 50* 49m, 41b, 1 four, 3 sixes; Buzza 31* 23m, 18b, 4 fours). It is extremely difficult, as found out the next day, to finish an innings either batting first or second and these two are real experts.                                        Next