We travelled to Cobdown in good spirits. Joe Ryan and Steve Turner re-united. A debut for fellow Northerner Duncan Willetts and a chance to see Matt Gill before his four month / permanent retirement following his wedding!! With a bowling line up of Ahmed, Brassington, Rashid and Carter Blackheath would be sure of some straight bowling to test the best batters in the league. And so it was to be .. 4 bowled, 2 LBWs, and 2 caught behinds supported that. Young Mark Murray played very well for his 76, surviving a perilously close LBW shout early doors. While Shan does what Shan does best - plays great cricket. The Italian maestro steered Cowdrey from 63-6 to 194 for 9 in 50 overs, thoroughly deserving his rewards. In reply Joe Ryan (79) and Steve Turner (22) offered resistance, and at 131-6 it was looking possible but Blackheath bowled out for 153 in 45.5 overs. Mark Murray (4 for) and Shan (3 for) doing as much damage with ball as bat. Deserved winners. As for the green ground ? The most runs in the division were scored at the highest average per over. The most overs bowled in any game in the division. And only Bapchild scored more runs - but just 18 more (against Walmer). Meanwhile at Cowdrey 303 runs were scored in 91.1 overs, at 3.3 per over. Maybe the grass is actually always greener at home. Dissappointing end to a good day's cricket played in hard spirit. We look forward to the rematch. Hamish Purdey - 26/06/2011