RAIN-rusty and out of touch they were, but local rivals Yorkley Star and Bream contrived to make this an absorbing contest at the splendid little Cut and Fry ground on Saturday.

So confident were Yorkley, chasing just 58 to win, they even put back tea until the end of the game. But as the run-chase became bogged down it meant the urn had to be kept on the boil!

Yorkley captain Tom Worgan explained: "The wicket was tricky and our batsmen became too worried to play their shots. We were stranded and suddenly achieving such a low total looked very difficult."

Worgan had his own, good old-fashioned solution: Hit out!

Batting at five, he came in with his team's total at just 13. When he strolled off having bashed a quickfire 24, Yorkley needed just 20 to win.

Bream won the toss and opted to bat. It was soon obvious this had been a mistake as wickets fell regularly. Only captain Chris Farr adapted to the conditions and grafted 18 before falling to a spectacular catch by youngster Jake Scott off the bowling of Ben Holmer.

Holmer finished with three wickets for nine runs off six overs. Mark Moodie waded in with two for seven off eight overs and Bream were all out for a disappointing 57 – as well as being too early for tea!

However, Yorkley's hopes of a spectacular and dramatic big-hitting response quickly evaporated. Bogged down by an accurate Bream attack and in particular by the nagging accuracy of Rupert Mitchell they floundered. Mitchell's excellent return of three wickets for six runs off eight overs, five of which were maidens, justifiably made him joint man-of-the-match with Worgan.

•Yorkley Star hold their annual Family Fun Day and cricket knock-out competition on Sunday at the Cut and Fry. Admission is free.