First MBCC C1 win of the season! Day one ended with MBCC in control of their match against notorious bogey club Dee Why, and hopefully an outright win on day two.

In pefect bowling conditions, MBCC skipper Matt Fisher won the toss, and simultaneously cannonised the coin used and asked Dee Why to buckle the pads. Led by Chris Sweet, the Breakers lived up to their named, Breaking partnerships at pleasingly regular intervals. "Chrispy" received a huge ego boost when one of the Dee Why players turned to stand in keeper Fisher after one delivery and asked Chris bowl a bit slower.

Chris took 5 wickets, bowling unchanged from one end with excellent left arm quick swing bowling (I'll take that bribe money now, sir). One of his victims scored a duck, and prompty just missed taking out the MBCC scorer via an accurate drop goal kick with a gear bag. Matty Phillips didn't manage a wicket first bowl, so last weeks questions about legitmacy of hat-tricks spread across two games became moot. Tony Brown again bowled well, including claiming Dee Why's opener who had resisted longer than anyone with a picket fence score sheet containing only one gate. MBCC were also excellent in the field, with captain Fish worried about his first keeping stint in months and promptly taking 4 excellent catches to set a club record. A subsequent phone call to regular keeper Stormboy Johnson would have been interesting if we could've heard it.

In a minities moment, the Dee Why innings ended when Tony Brown, chief Unit, cunningly bowled a no ball that the batsmen were so disorientated about they managed a run out at the bowlers end. Dee Why, all out for 80. Batting conditions were hampered by a slow outfield, although recent rain fortunately didn't seem to stuff up the ball too much.

Chasing our first outright of the season, Rob Lavery opended up with Matt Fisher and the pair posted 42 runs for the first wicket, Matt calming Rob and unluckily dismissed with the first ball he tried to loft. Dee Why used a cunning spin bowler, easily the pick of them according to batsmen and umpires, and only two sizes (one into the trees) by Rob dented his figures. Joined by Ash Hopper, MBCC's international player, Rob smashed the bowlers, reachig his fifty with a lofted drive that beat a marvellous drive to go for four. A skied ball soon after was shelled by Dee Why, and Ash (22*) and Rob (80*) calmly took the Breakers to a formidable 116-1 at stumps. Rob's 40 over innings meant he had equaled Dee Why's total by himself, and was alsdo his longest knock for 10 years (onya Unit!). Not only was this our first win, it was also madness as players jossled to go in next at the fall of a wicket that, fortunately, never occurred. Winners are grinners, and it was great seeinhg Ash and Rob discussing batting techniques at the Brookie after the match, as well as the happy smile on skipper Matt Fishers face as his team celebrated our first - and not the last - win of 2003/04. Roll on next week and someone cut the outfield please!