Twenty years of contemplating what to call didn’t help stand in captain Rob Martin as he lost the toss and Brindabella decided to bat. Young guns Luke Staunton and Pat Martin opened the attack and it was obvious the batsmen were going to attack at every opportunity. In Staunton’s second over Rob Martin put down a hot chance at midwicket and unfortunately this set the trend for the innings as numerous chances went to hand and ground.

It took the sure hands of Peter Hazell off the persistent Troy Harrison to break the opening partnership in the 13th over with the score on 70. Brindabella continued to chance their arm and at drinks were 1 for114 as chances continued to fall just out of reach or found hard hands.

The second wicket fell just after drinks when Glenn Scott trapped the number 3 LBW. Shortly after Staunton fired a great return to run out the opener for 73 after he had had a least 10 lives.

The next 10 overs belonged to Braidwood as the fielding improved and Glenn Scott produced a fine 8 over spell to return the figure of 6 for 18 including 3 maidens. In this period Harrison and Hazell took good catches and when the 9th wicket fell in the 38th over Braidwood had fought their way back into the match. However the last two batsmen broke free and added a further 42 to take the innings total to 225.

For most part the bowling was steady but the catching particularly in the outfield will need plenty of practice.

Chasing this sizeable total Braidwood had a disastrous start when Corey Pont was hit on the elbow only to see the ball catapult into his stumps in the second over. Worse was to follow two overs later when fellow opener Patrick Bourke was hit on the back foot dragging the ball back into the stumps. Next ball Troy Harrison played down the wrong line and Braidwood were in dire trouble at 3 for 9.Hazell and Staunton then set about getting the innings back on track with a fine 49 run partnership before Peter spooned a simple catch to mid-off in the last over before drinks.