LMVCC well beaten in Chess Valley League opener

Faced with a powerful Brondesbury side, who are one of the favourites for the Chess Valley Division One title, Vale came away with a four-wicket loss - although there are several positives for the club to take moving forwards.

Winning the toss and electing to bat on a sun-baked day in north-west London, Vale were jolted by a brace of early wickets. Adam Brand and Ben Kohler steadied the ship and shifted momentum in Vale’s direction, but regular wickets denied the visitors the chance to post an imposing total.

Brand played a wonderful knock, reading the game situation perfectly to withstand initial pressure before guiding Vale to a challenging score. He had advanced to 79 before being bowled with just a few overs to go. Only one other batsman, captain Neil Lederman passed 20 - highlighting how several of the Vale line-up got themselves in but could not push on. 

A total of 196 on a decent track against a batting-heavy opposition was never likely to be enough - and so it proved.