If it is the mark of a good side that they can still get results whilst not playing at their best, then the first team got off to a flyer at Southill Park in Bedfordshire.

Captain Alastair Cliffe failed his first major test of the season by calling incorrectly and Thriplow found themselves inserted at Southill's beautiful picturesque ground on the Whitbread Estate. Openers John Howe and Theo Giasemidis proceeded cautiously, although the Greek did pull a delightful six into the adjacent field, momentarily to disturb a herd of ruminating cows.

Having progressed without undue alarm to 40, Howe then chipped a catch to mid-wicket and the tempo changed dramatically with the arrival of Alistair Russell, whose footwork and timing made batting look remarkably simple. Giasemidis and the skipper both departed (caught behind and unaccountably bowled off a full-toss respectively) but Freddie Preston, his timing all awry, stoically kept Russell company whilst the score mounted and at 158 for 3 with 12 overs left, a total in excess of 250 looked on.

Russell, in sight of a second-debut hundred, then holed out to mid-wicket for 81 and after a mini-collapse Thriplow were indebted to fellow-debutants Tristan Tusa and Jack Quartermain, whose combination of rapid running between the wickets and excellent shot-placement took the final score to an adequate 216 for 9.

In Southill's response, Quartermain was guilty of over-eagerness and started off erratically but then settled into a rhythm alongside the metronomic Sam Jansen, whose first five overs only cost eight runs. Nevertheless Southill had progressed sedately and largely untroubled to 70 for 1 off 18 overs when a double bowling-change swung the game back Thriplow's way. Freddie Preston and Richie Turner, the latter bowling his ten overs off the reel eventually to pick up 2 for 33, both made immediate inroads and when Tristan Tusa came on to replace Preston and take two wickets in his first over, Southill realized that they were dependent on captain Ben Wallis if they were to have any chance in the match. However, the expected assault failed to materialise and when Preston returned and induced Wallis to chip a return catch, the game was as good as won and Southill were finally all out for 159 in the 46th over.

Granta II, who were heavily beaten in their first match, await next.