SHIRESHEAD began their Twenty20 cup campaign with a 54-run victory at a rather soggy Sedgwick.

After electing to bat first on a wicket damp from all the recent rain, Shireshead found it hard going in the face of some disciplined Sedgwick bowling.

Phil Oliver (55) and Phil Bovis added 42 for the first wicket, before Oliver added a further 42 in the company of Danny Wilkinson for the second wicket.

Oliver punished the odd loose ball severely, as did Dave Jack (25 not out) in a late cameo which allowed Shireshead to post a challenging 116 for 4 in the conditions.

J Matthews returned the best bowling figures as he conceded just 10 from his four overs.

The Sedgwick reply began badly as Wilkinson bowled his four overs for just six runs, and Rowan Upton ran out Jason Dalzell with a direct hit.

Upton then set about his work with ball in hand and his figures of three for 16 helped reduce Sedgwick to 30 for eight at one stage as two further run outs were effected. Pete Dodd (2 for 15) also bowled tidily as the innings finally ended on 62, although P Cantley (25 not out) struck the ball well in an ultimately losing cause.