Village de-rail Ickleford's title challenge

The 1st team's final home game of the season saw 2nd placed Ickleford visit 'the Lane' needing a victory to retain their chance of topping the Division. Having been humbled in the rain affected reverse fixture earlier in the season, the Village were keen to make amends. With the regular Captain on a rare trip away from home shores, it fell to Phil Smith to take the reins on his return from injury. The toss was won by the visiting side, who elected to bat first.

The Village bowling attack performed admirably throughout the innings. On a track with plenty of runs in it, the lines and lengths found by all the bowlers put the Ickleford batsman under pressure, as the scoreboard remained between 3 and 4 an over throughout. Seemingly fearful of a lengthy tail the visitors batted circumspectly, trying hard to retain wickets. 121-4 in the 33rd over was about as good as it ever got for Ickleford who lost 4 wickets in the last 5 overs, in the chase for late runs. They ended on 189-9. Dan Potter benefited from the attempted late push, picking up 3-27 in 4 overs. Naz Asif (2-34) and Marcus Cara (1-21) both bowled their full allocation of 10 overs, strangling the run rate in the middle of the innings. Andrew Potter (1-31) and Saahil Mehra (0-37) also kept things tight in the opening overs.

Ickleford's bowling attack is built around an array of slow bowlers dropping it on a length. It was a formula that worked well for them the last time the Village had to face it and it has proved successful on the many sticky wickets they have enjoyed this season. In truth, it really wasn't very potent on a dryish wicket, despite the considerable turn that was available in the now dusty ends of the Village square. On this occasion, the Village batted sensibly and were always ahead of the required rate. Jay Nandha hit some classy cut shots on his way to 33 and Marcus Cara hit a typically punchy 40. With the score at 143-4 in the 30th over, the Village were in cruise control, needing just 57 in the last 20 overs with 6 wickets in hand. Things are never straightforward though and when Felix Charles was dismissed for 21, the score had moved on to 163-7 and nerves were jangling once more. The Ickleford side sensed a chance of an unlikely victory and became very vocal, posting lots of fielders around the bat. Piers Jenkins (22*) jumped around and played a few of his customary one handed defence shots but he soon saw off the close fielders with a couple of blows over the top. He and Phil Smith were in determined mood and steered the ship home without any further alarm.

It was a well deserved victory that secures the Village's place in the same Division next season and takes the pressure off the final game of the season at bottom placed Chipperfield Clarendon. The 1st team will end up 6th come what may in the last game. Half the games have been lost, many against inferior oppositions. There is no reason to believe the Village won't be challenging for promotion again next season.