Mild and overcast conditions greeted the players at the Eden cricket ground where Mark Spink won the toss and elected to bat first.

Club president Drew Mudaliar and Luke Timms went out to face the new ball pair of Longmore from the Thomsen end and Metzler from the Ryan Chester end.

Both batsmen looked assured from the start with Drew, as usual, not afraid to loft the ball into the outfield, and Luke timing the ball beautifully into the gaps to have the scoreboard moving faster than at any time so far this season.

Drew was one run short of his half-century when Longmore had him caught at wide mid-on.

His innings included four fours and one six, and the opening partnership was the best of the season.

Though not timing the ball well Matt Bell showed an inclination to attack, and when drinks were taken after 20 overs he and Luke had taken the score to one for 95.

The introduction of the Bega spinners Cooper and Stocker stemmed the flow of runs, and shortly after the 100 had been reached Matt was caught in the gully off stocker.

When Grant Miller begins an innings with a succession of well-judged singles it often leads to bigger and better things, and so it proved again on this day.

Luke’s graceful knock of 37 ended when Cooper had him stumped by Parker, but Grant and Nik Swiridiuk ran well between the wickets and waited for the bad balls to take the score to 150 and beyond.

Both batsmen played some delightful shots and Grant reached 50 by picking up a delivery of fullish length and lofting it over the square-leg fence for six.

With the overs running out both were bowled hitting across the line going for quick runs.

Another handy contribution from Nik with 27 while Grant’s 58 included five fours and two sixes.

A late flurry from Mark Spink and Tim Bowes saw Eden to a total of five for 217 from their 40 overs.

Despite some notable absentees from the catering crew the hospitality area was still trading briskly.