After an odd week in the world with Trump ambushing the South African President, Spurs winning El Crapico and some bloke in Norway waking up with a ship in his backyard, the day had finally arrived.

Flamstead.

Away.

Match Scorecard

This was a top of the table clash with both teams claiming two wins in two games. The 1s needed to ensure complacency didn’t kick in especially with the opposition’s star man Sanjeewa Wijetunga having already scored two hundreds in as many games.

The day didn’t get off to the best of starts with a crash on the M1 meaning most of the team arrived late and the usual thorough warm up and fielding drills had to be cut short. Nevertheless, on this overcast day the skipper Devraj Ray won his first toss of the season. You’d expect him to win more for reasons I’ll leave untold. He put the home team into bat to make use of the good bowling conditions and dodgy looking pitch.

First up was the clash everyone had been waiting for, Sam Smith v Sanjeewa Wijetunga.

Ball 1: 1
Ball 2: 1
Ball 3: 0
Ball 4: 5 Wides
Ball 5: 2 Wides
Ball 6: 1
Ball 7: Clean Bowled

1 Nil Sam Smith.

An eventful first over, 10-1, the Village purring.

Thomas Smith started at the other end and continued his fine form, bowling in top areas. In at number 3 for the opposition was Inthikhab Mazeez, a former Village player. He looked nervous from the off and had six play and misses before the sublime happened. A full pelt delivery from Sam Smith was nicked by the former Village man and Sumit Jadav, a man built like Private Leonard "Gomer Pyle" Lawrence from Full Metal Jacket dived down to his right, taking an unreal one handed catch in the slips. Take a bow son.

The opposition were now 26-2 and this quickly became 40-4 after another clean bowled by Sam Smith and Thomas Smith picking up one of his own after having a short delivery smashed straight to Jay Nandha at point after Amit Chadha had dropped him the ball before. First change brought on Marcus Cara who also continued his fine form with the ball by picking up a wicket of his own and drying up the runs. 63-5 then quickly became 75-6 after Lee Cara had come on to join his brother in attack. He was a man ready for war and with the sun in non-existence, he couldn’t use it to shine off his teeth to distract the batsman anymore, he had to bowl line and length. And line and length is what he delivered, with the batsman smashing one straight to cover for Devraj Ray to take a conventional catch. That’s two in two for the skipper. Fielding drills really do work.

It has to be noted, not everything was perfect for the away team. A few catches did go down in this period, Sam Smith not getting low enough to a Marcus Cara delivery. He said it dropped just short, dubious. Lee Cara could have had a second but keeper James Thompson stood up to the batsman and dropped what would have otherwise been a regulation catch. Such the high standards he set himself after last season, he was clearly distraught at the drop but having a sulk mid-game and acting like a 5 year old isn’t the way in a top of the table league match. Sometimes you have to suck it up and act your age, not your shoe size.

But I digress.

The opposition’s 100% record looked like it was going down in tatters along with their performance. Were the 1s going to take their foot off the pedal?

No.

Instead, it was sheer brilliance.

These are the moments that bring the crowd to their feet, that etch themselves into club folklore, the kind where time itself seems to pause, just before the unforgettable happens. Obaid Ur Rehman was the bowler, Haresh De Silva was the batsman. A sweep shot, top edged high into the sky flying towards the backward square leg boundary. Step up Jay Nandha. From short fine leg, he sprinted all the way towards the boundary, watching the ball over his shoulder the whole way, to take an unreal diving catch at full stretch. Queue the celebrations. The batsman in complete shock. The Village in total jubilation. 93-7. Flamstead down.

Shortly after, Marcus Cara picked up another, whilst Amit Chadha came on to carry on his wicket taking streak by getting their skipper LBW. Obaid Ur Rehman could and should have had another wicket, a nick and a missed catch by the keeper, the ball flicking his gloves and heading in Marcus Cara’s direction at first slip, down again.

At 109-9 the Village were well in control and hoping to dismiss the last man quickly. However, a resilient number 10 and 11 saw them put on 40 for the last wicket before Jay Nandha took his third catch and Marcus Cara picked up his third wicket of the day.

A dominant display by the 1s, the opposition finishing on 149 all out after 40.5 overs, with 30 of the runs coming in extra.

Teas were done and not soon after so was Sumit Jadav (0). He drove his second ball in the air straight to short cover. The Village 0-1. Next in was the skipper Devraj Ray and he started off with the shot of the day. A beautiful cover drive all along the ground to the boundary. However, just like Sumit Jadav, his innings was cut short and was given LBW for 9. 18-2 and a slight wobble. Marcus Cara at the crease. First ball - clean bowled. 18-3 and for the first time this season the 1s were feeling some pressure.

The 1s needed to dig in here and they needed some inspiration to get their innings back on track. And the cricketing Gods sent one down. Ex 1s player and club legend Felix Charles had strolled in with his lovely wife - and yes you guessed it, he did tell us to "RUN YOUR SINGLES!"

With Felix Charles watching on and the 1s top scorer Sam Smith now at the crease, the optimism was back. Along with Daniel Potter, he steadied the ship and kick started the innings. Daniel Potter was playing a calculated, watchful innings, supporting Sam Smith who was keeping the scoreboard ticking over the required run rate. However, a first for the season, Sam Smith was out, bowled through the gate. The Village were now 73-4, star man gone, the pitch doing all sorts and still over half the runs to get.

In at 6 was Jay Nandha, after another outstanding performance in the field, it was now his time to put last season’s woes with the bat behind him and dig in deep, and so he did. He stuck it out in the middle and got over the sticky patch and started rotating the strike beautifully along with hitting a glorious four straight back passed the bowler. At the other end, Daniel Potter, who’s been the stalwart of the 1s for the past 10 years was showing his class, hitting all the bowlers around the park and bringing up yet another 50 for himself. However, uncharacteristically he tried to hit one to the moon and missed it completely. The ball striking his pads and he departed on 59.

14 still left to get and Jay Nandha decided to take it upon himself to not let the opposition gain any confidence from the dismissal of Daniel Potter and smashed two cover drives for four to bring the Village in touching distance of victory. Obaid Ur Rehman was in at the other end and a few runs later, he nurdled one to the third man boundary to hit the winnings runs.

It was a good batting performance by Daniel Potter (59) and Jay Nandha (35*) showing composure, patience and know how to help take the Village over the line.

30 points. 3 wins from 3 games. The unbeaten run continues.

Again, it was a ruthless display with the ball, some excellent fielding (bar a few sloppy dropped catches) and batting that showed guts and guile – proving we can win ugly too. Jay Nandha picked up Man of the Match with his match-winning 35 not out and three catches, with one that will be talked about for decades to come. All in all it was a good win against a very good side - such a good performance that even the Hawk, yes the one that was terrorising innocent civilians of Flamstead for weeks – decided to take the afternoon off, no doubt intimidated by Lee Cara’s presence.