Water shot: Rival sailing clubs face each other in annual grudge match... in the middle of the Solent



It's not exactly a favourable batting surface, but that doesn't deter the two teams involved in this historic cricket match.



Members of the Royal Southern Yacht Club and Island Sailing Club faced off in their annual grudge match on a sandbank in the middle of the Solent.



And whereas in normal cricket it's rain that often stops play, in the Bramble Bank match it's a case of tide always stops play, as the teams compete for less than an hour before the waves wash in and swamp the pitch.



Anchor man: A batsman takes a swing at the ball in the Bramble Bank cricket match which is held once a year on a sandbar in the middle of the Solent

Deep water square leg: The bizarre sporting contest only lasts around an hour before the tide makes the 'pitch' unplayable

Bramble Bank is a sandbar in the centre of the Solent - the stretch of water between the Isle of Wight and the Hampshire coastline. The sandbank is uncovered only once a year - for about an hour - when the lowest tide reveals a temporary 200-metre-long 'pitch'.

During that time the two sides, the Royal Southern Yacht Club, from Hamble, Hampshire and the Island Sailing Club, from Cowes on the Isle of Wight, sail out from the opposite coasts for their match.

The tradition, which began in the 1950s, includes the teams taking it in turns to win and always ends with a celebratory meal.



This year, in front of more than 150 spectators, it was the turn of the Royal Southern Yacht Club to be victors.



Wet before wicket: The playing surface on the Bramble Bank pitch can only be described as 'changeable'

Play on: The two teams compete right up until the incoming tide forces them to sail back to the mainland

David Mead, Vice Commodore of the Royal Southern Yacht Club, told the BBC: 'I've never seen such a big turn out in all my time at the Bramble Bank cricket match. It was unbelievable.



'A good time was had by all and the weather was beautiful.'

One of the stranger things about an already unusual event is that the rare tide and wind patterns which cause the Bramble Bank lead to a 'mirage' effect, with passing boats seeing cricketers appearing to walk on water.