Catch up with all of the action and standout performances from round one of the 2024 Voneus Village Cup
Main image: Player of the round Saeed Bariwala
Allrounders stole the limelight in a rain-affected first round of the 2024 Voneus Village Cup.
In North Yorkshire (North), James Kelly scored a quickfire 60 (38) and picked up 3 for 18 as Aldbrough St John defeated Rockliffe Park by 41 runs. Seventy-five miles south, Nathan Ellam had a starring role in 2020 semi-finalists Carlton Towers' 22-run victory over Killinghall. He scored 73 (93) and took 4 for 23. And in Derbyshire, Dinting's James Townley top-scored with 64 (102) and collected 4 for 8 in their 91-run win over Shipley Hall.
However, it was Torrisholme's Saeed Bariwala who scooped player of the round honours for his all-round masterclass in a low-scoring affair against Grimsargh. Bariwala scored a valiant 26 (52) to drag his side from 38 for 6 to 76 all out before taking a nerveless five-for (5 for 16) to orchestrate Grimsargh's collapse from 49 for 5 to 68 and secure an eight-run win for his side.
Moody skies during Quatt versus Hagley [Philip Wilcox/@philipw65]
Bariwala, who has barely bowled since joining Torrisholme, said: "It's over four years since I left Kendal, I haven't bowled and I never thought I would again, until I was backed fully by my captain and regained that confidence. I can't give enough thanks to our skipper who believed in me.
"When I bowl, that adds a lot of confidence to my batting too, so hopefully this year is going to be massive for me with both the ball and the bat. I just love to bowl."
Torrisholme captain Jack Heap added: "Saeed is, without a doubt, a match-winner within our team with bat, ball, and in the field. His hard work over the winter is clearly paying off with a solid score of 26, batting in tough conditions, but more impressively, his bowling won us the game.
"He is a great role model to all those around him, both young and old, and he is a great asset to the club. I am so proud of him."
Elsewhere, Woodhouse Grange (North Yorkshire North) got their bid for a record-extending fifth title off to a winning start, defeating South Holderness by eight wickets. Richard Ingram did, however, give the visitors something to cheer, blasting an unbeaten 48 (17) at No.10.
Last year's finalists Leeds & Broomfield (Kent) and 2021 champions Calmore (Hampshire) advanced courtesy of walkover victories over Egerton and South Winchester, but Houghton Main (West Yorkshire) fell at the first hurdle, losing to Kippax in a bowl-off. 2023 semi-finalists Stayley (Cheshire & Clwyd) exited the competition at the hands of Hawk Green.
A wicket falls in Quatt's meeeting with Hagley [Philip Wilcox/@philipw65]
Jack Mingo scored the first century of the 2024 tournament, striking 108 runs off 109 balls to set up an 84-run victory for Grampound Road against Perranporth. Great Totham captain James Pook also reached three figures, scoring an unbeaten 117 (93) in his side's 41-run defeat to Abberton & District.
Sam Hilton, one of three players to take a six-wicket haul in round one, is in possession of the competition's best bowling figures. He took 6 for 14 as Mayfield (Sussex) bowled Waldron out for just 30 to complete a 161-run victory.
Wraysbury were similarly dominant against Pinkney's Green, cruising to a 10-wicket win after dismissing their visitors for 52, but at the opposite end of the spectrum, Glynde & Beddingham and Findon shared 456 runs in a high-scoring affair in Sussex, with the former sneaking a 12-run win.
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