Following a wash out at the HAC in May, the Moose arrived at a sun soaked Barn Elms hoping to get the 2018 season off to a winning start versus the Cambridge to Casablanca Cycling Cricket Club. Buoyed by a number of new recruits, the Moose took the field to have a bowl having lost the toss in batter friendly conditions and made a tidy start. Khurram - one of the three debutants on show for the Moose - was particularly impressive, bowling with pace and skill to make early inroads to the CTCCCC top order. However, an impressive fourth wicket partnership of between Pearson and Hesketh put CTCCC back in contention. Howie played the role of partnership breaker for the Moose, as he tempted Hesketh to go aerial on 48 with a flighted wide delivery which was expertly held by McGahan in the deep. Howie quickly followed this up with a sharp diving stop and throw to run Hobbs out for a duck. Bucknell, Keylock and Fisken all contributed with economical and threatening spells and were unlucky not to be rewarded for their efforts in the wickets column. CTCCC finished with 232 - 5 from their 35 overs, guided through by Pearson who batted superbly for his 96 not out, denied a century only by lack of strike in the last few overs. Khurram was the pick of the Moose bowlers, finishing with figures of 3 / 29 off his 7 overs.

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In response, the Moose got off to a flying start with Stuart Morten and Andrew McNaught tucking into some loose bowling at the top of the innings. Morten picked up where he left off in September, driving the ball fluently through cover and straight, while McNaught – batting for the first time in England – acclimatised quickly and showed his class with a flicked 6 off the legs. The partnership was broken when McNaught found the man in the deep off the leg-spin of Dean for 34. Morten and Munro combined to further consolidate the Moose’s strong position. Munro batted fluently for his 33 before being undone by one which kept low, and Morten continued his good form by bringing up his 50. However, the loss of Morten for 78 triggered a collapse in the Moose middle order; Howie followed for 4 and Fisken made 2 before being caught and bowled by Rutt. Requiring 40 off the last 5 overs with 5 wickets in hand, the game was very much in the balance before Tom Ford played the decisive hand for the Moose, making a rapid 40 not out including three 6’s and four 4’s, securing a victory for the Moose.