Liss v Steep: STEEP first team’s season is now up and running after a dominant performance away to local rivals Liss.

Steep skipper John Smith won the toss, on what proved to be a slow, low wicket, and confidently inserted Liss.

Steep openers Richard Atkins and Smith bowled fiercely up front and quickly set about the Liss top order, each taking a wicket in their first two overs to reduce the hosts to 8-4 off four overs.

The pick of the wickets was that of Richard Pleace junior, who shouldered arms and had his off stump pegged back by a vicious seaming delivery from captain Smith.

The openers kept the pressure on, with Smith taking a further wicket and leaving Liss struggling at 26-5.

Then came the introduction of Steep all-rounder Ally Bone. He started slowly as Pearce (51) and Hannam (14) looked to build a partnership, but he soon hit his stride, taking 4-25 off his six overs to wrap up the tail in style. Some expert fielding from James Kiddle put paid to Pearce at point with an outstanding full length diving catch.

Tom Mercer acted as a perfect foil, bowling tightly without much luck as the innings stumbled to a close in the 25th over, with the Harrowmen being set a meagre total of 98 runs for the win.

The Steep innings started in calamitous style with Collins being run out in the sixth over before Sean Noble (26) and Dean Knight (30) dug in and steadied the ship. The Liss attack worked hard to restrict the batsmen, but Smith and Bone cantered to a comfortable five-wicket win.