Written by Dave Hayward

A big one, away to Street End, the only team left who could bring us down from our lofty perch on top of the division with their game in hand. Weather app suggests rain and wind. Arrive at yet another new ground to find a beautiful old fashioned village cricket scene with two magnificent Horse Chestnut trees within the boundary one not more than 15 yards from the edge of the square. Local rules apply.

The home team lose the toss and as per norm are asked to bat first. The openers, both stylish with the willow face up to Samir and Fookes as our opening attack. Samir miserly as normal concedes 16 from his opening 7 overs, Fookes picks up the faster scoring Stone with a nick to the safe hands of Coney behind the stumps. In walks home skipper Hopper, by reputation the scorer of the majority of their runs, but he falls for the old Blue Bell Hill one two. Fookes draws in him with two horrible long hops both dispatched through square leg for 6, Lucas coming on at the other end and perhaps a yard quicker bowls a similar ball which is top edged for a high catch for Coney, which is comfortably pouched (unlike last weeks effort). Lucas and Ian then bowl 18 tidy overs between them stifling the scoring rate. Lucas picks up a 2nd wicket for the day. Ian wicketless but Scroogelike goes for only 23 in his 9 overs. The bowling attack is completed with Jesuit, all flight and guile and changes of pace who picks up 2 wickets and Sanket, the finisher, who picks up another 2 for the season. The 8th wicket falls following a lightning piece of fielding by the ageless Fookes to complete the runout. The innings was interrupted by an old testament style rain shower which lost about 25 minutes of play together and with 2 crashing sounds from the car parking area as gusts of wind picked up the pavilion end sightscreen twice, the last one impaling it on a branch of a tree. 187 for 8, the home team from what was being said relatively happy, the away team following recent Chellball run chases confident in their ability to hunt the score down.

A quick turnaround to try and save a bit of time lost and we open with Sausage and Jesuit. Jesuit starts off quickly including one exquisite late cut off the opening bowler before smashing one into his pads, home umpires finger raised. Jesuit walks off accepting the decision maybe grumbling under his breath. Sausage, obviously fearful of a similar decision takes on a quickish single, pops a hamstring, and hobbles off without giving the umpire an opportunity. Rich, in imperious form following last weeks ton, commences bludgeoning the ball to all parts, including some stylish Chinese cuts much to the annoyance of the fielding side, and is joined by skipper Chelly, back at four following a sojourn lower down the order. Their partnership moves the score on to 97, Rich scoring freely, Chelly more watchful, before play is again interrupted by another biblical storm, new testament maybe, and we lose another 40 minutes. Umpire Bish dons groundsman’s cap and wields garden fork to render advice to dry out a wet patch where the hose has discharged and finally we are back out there. Well done to the home team for wanting the game to finish (secretly they probably thought they were still in with a chance).

Plenty of time had been lost so it was rule books out to determine that 16 overs had to be bowled in the last hour starting at 7. Up to that hour we lost Chelly, bowled, and Rich was joined by Ian. The two moved the score on to 123 for 2 as the hour struck. So 68 required in 16 overs. Ian departed having moved the score onto 161 holing out off the bottom of the bat to extra cover while Rich followed soon after on 163 for another excellent 75. The fielding side became louder and more animated, but we have depth in our batting these days and Samir was joined by Lucas. The score was moved on to 177 before Samir fell foul of an LBW decision, bringing Govind to the crease. The fielders encroach, these last runs are the hardest to get apparently, Govind dispatched first ball back over bowlers head for four, fielders go quiet, 6 balls and a couple of singles later Lucas lofts the ball to mid wicket, job done.

Another excellent win, against a good team. We have now played all the opposition sides and apart from the two frustrating games against Rainham have defeated them all. If we carry on with this form, well, who knows …….

We finally left the ground around 9 pm. The Horse Chestnuts, by the way, did not get involved.