Gates' All-round Display is Heaven-Sent as Triangle Triumph

From the off it looked as if the captain's gamble had paid off as Males stroked the first ball of the afternoon for four, albeit off his glove, and then raced away to nine in very uncharacteristic fashion reminiscent of his evening league form, before he was heading back to the pavilion after missing a full toss. Under orders to bat sensibly, Mark Nott was sent in next, smashing Shillingstone's best bowler Chris Cole for some lusty fours before being bowled. Ken Dodson had been looking on in disbelief at the rapid fall of the first two wickets and was looking in good touch until he played and missed at a big outswinger and made his feelings known about his final shot by testing the sturdiness of the visitor's changing room door.

Triangle were well and truly on the rack as Jon Dixon joined Bill Gates in the middle and then duly departed a few balls later for a paltry 4 runs to his name. Daniel Jones was sent in to shore up the middle order but was making his way back after only a couple of overs amassing four runs in double quick time (for him). With 5 wickets down for 56, but with a very healthy run rate after 14 overs, a captain's innings was required to stop the rot. Meanwhile the good reverend was keeping his head while all around him were all but losing theirs and was steadily amassing runs.

The skipper was playing a rather restrained innings and this all got too much for him, as his concentration wavered, he was suckered into spooning a slower delivery from Miller straight to mid off, already halfway through his shot as the ball reached him. Sam Polley didn't last long either as he was given out controversially as he claimed the keeper had knocked the bails with his gloves rather than the ball hitting them. "Rupert" Waight then supported Gates well as Triangle rallied well to pass the century mark with some fine grafting from Rupert's end complementing Gates.

Rupert finally fell after a gritty 6 to make way for Tom Cole, who was under orders not to surrender his wicket with any silly shots, and therefore immediately smashed his first delivery off the spinner Milne. After a few choice words from Gates young Cole settled into defensive mode, supporting Bill who went on to make his half century until he tried to push the score along a little too hard and was trapped lbw by Edwards with 3 overs left. Morris joined Cole and managed to follow his Captain's orders as the pair held on to the final over before trying to push for the fourth batting point as Edwards returned to the attack to swing the ball very effectively, though the straight one was enough to take care of Sicknote with 3 balls still remaining.

After a quite superb sit-down tea, Triangle took to the field with the skip's rousing call for 110% effort when fielding, Rupert opened with spinner Jon Dixon and the pair were effective from the off in reducing the run rate. The first breakthrough was made by Dicko who removed the opener Edwards with a sharp caught and bowled. He really should have picked up another wicket in his next over when a looping top edge from an attempted pull shot was dropped by Sam Polley who had had enough time to dry his hands before spilling it. The big man persevered and got his man as Shillingstone started to wobble. Rupert then chipped in with a wicket, tempting Froud to drive a ball straight at Dodson as his efforts looked to be going unrewarded .

Dicko picked up two more scalps including a neat catch by Rupert at point, but was unable to deliver a fifth as he ended his impressive spell yielding just 20 runs. At the same time Rupert was concluding his twelfth over of a typically frugal stint as Shillingstone were shaking with just over 50 runs on the board but 5 wickets down. A change of bowlers brought more rewards for Neven's men as Polley finally trapped the opener Smurthwaite lbw, who had threatened to do a Gates and galvanise the innings. He then traded wickets with that man Gates as the middle order crumbled and it was only a late fightback between Milne and Farrell who put on 35 for the last wicket before Morris removed the left-hander Farrell with an inswinging yorker to wrap up the win for Triangle.