Hay faced Presteigne on Saturday, looking to keep their unbeaten run going and remain on top of Division 2, writes Mark Burgess.
The pitch had been covered since Thursday in preparation for the incoming rain that was forecast, to give as much of a chance as possible to get the game on. The planning proved to be well judged as without this, we wouldn't have played.
Losing the toss, Hay were put into bat with the outfield still fairly wet and runs hard to come by. Both Tim Francis and Tim Masters fell early to leave Hay 24/2 in the 10th over. Gareth Grant and Dan Bowen saw off the remainder of Jockey Wilson's dangerous spell with the knowledge that runs would be easier to come by with the change of bowlers.
Sure enough, amongst a number of head high full tosses and subsequent free hits, the score moved along quickly. In the 24 overs they batted together, Grant and Bowen put on 169 between them. Grant reached three figures for the third game running, before being caught in the deep for 117, to take him to 655 league runs for the season.
Bowen remained not out at the end of the innings on 56, with the wickets of Matthew Foulkes and Will Price falling in the closing overs. Hay finished on 218/5.
In reply, Presteigne found scoring difficult from the start. Mark Burgess (1/19) and Huw Griffiths (0/10) restricted them to less than two runs an over for the majority of their spells. Presteigne did make it through the first 20 overs with just two wickets lost, however with the score only on 43, a run chase was never on the cards.
Gareth Grant (4/19) was as dangerous with the ball as he was with bat, with Gabe Moore (3/20) bowling a fantastic spell, including the wicket of Edward Rees who made 51.
Alan Stocker (21) and James Chilman (11) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures.
John Sly (1/45) and Matthew Griffiths (1/4) claimed the other wickets as Presteigne were all out in the last over for 130.
Canon Frome visit Hay on Saturday, with the reverse fixture earlier the season a nail-biting one-wicket win.