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On
Sunday 7 June Palmers hosted Hurstpierpoint in a rain
affected friendly match. Palmers played with 10 men, 7 of
whom were under 25 and Hurstpierpoint had two brothers and a
dad, the Mamoany’s.
Hurstpierpoint batted first reaching 167 for 8 wickets,
after losing wickets through their innings taken by 16 year
old Alex Cornwell, who took 4 for 42 (11 overs) and 17 year
old Tom Scotcher, who took 3 for 32 (9 overs).
Hurstpierpoint’s resistance had come in the form of Sam
Parsons who scored 64 and was eventually bowled by Tom
Scotcher.
Following tea and a brief interval for rain Palmers
commenced their reply opening with Alex Cornwell and Chris
Emment. Alex was dropped on the first ball of the innings
and reacted by hitting 3 boundaries in the first over, Chris
took a different approach in his first match of the season,
defending his wicket and taking 31 balls to reach 10.
However, with Alex hitting boundaries with ease the
partnership moved on at a quick pace, and Alex reaching 50
in 35 balls. As the partnership continued the result looked
ominous.
By the
time the partnership reached 159, Alex was on 98 and Chris
44, and we were asking if both century and half-century was
going to happen. Alex then brought up his century on the
last ball of the 22nd over with a lofted straight drive,
102* off 69 balls and to become the youngest play to hit a
century for Palmers at 16 years 333 days. This left 5 to win
and Chris needing 6 to for his half-century, but he hit two
fours in the 23rd over to win the match and
finishing on 52 not out (beating his previous best innings
of 6). Thus Palmers won the match by 10 wickets, and the
celebrations began! | 
