Optimists Cricket Club

This weekend, the Optimists hosted Geneva CC for the first time.

Niraj Trivedi was stand-in skipper for the Optimists and in a 40-over format batted first. In the face of a strong Geneva bowling attack, the Optimists team scraped to 172 runs, losing their last wicket in the last over. The stand-out performance was a measured 64 not out from Phil Burleigh, who with that becomes the club's leading run-scorer in all forms of cricket so far this season.

172 runs in 40 overs is not a huge total and the Optimists bowlers struggled to contain the Geneva batsmen throughout the second innings, with one exception - Ravi Ramanathan (8-1-21-3). Well bowled Ravi. The rest of the bowlers leaked 21 wides among them and conceded around 5 runs per over, not allowing skipper Trivedi any chance to put Geneva under pressure. Geneva coasted home with four overs and three wickets to spare, a comfortable victory.

Sunday's game was unfortunately rained off, but Geneva turned out to be a good side who we will welcome back in future years.

Will Heath

Picture: Phil Burleigh batting in a previous match this season.