Village 1st XI march on

MHV 1st XI, playing away for only the 2nd time in the league this season, travelled to Elstree to play Hatch End, who are ground sharing with Elstree CC following the burning down of their clubhouse last season. Fortunately, getting their club burnt down proved to be the only thing in which the hosts were 'superior' to the visitors.

Captain Overton won the toss and invited Hatch End to bat first. The now familiar and formidable opening attack of Saahil Mehra and David Overton were too accurate for the Hatch End top order who struggled to score at much more than a run an over for the first 12 overs. Saahil was unlucky not to pick up any wickets but Dave profited at the other end, removing 3 of the top 4 for single figure scores. Lengthy spells by the openers gave way briefly to a couple of dodgy overs of spin from Danny Potter. However several long hops brought about a swift change of tactics. James Cook and Majid Asif settled into a rhythm and although the middle order looked a little more positive, the medium pacers picked up two wickets a piece ro reduce Hatch End to 76 for 7.

It looked like an early tea until numbers 9 & 10 came out swinging and did so with some success. The Village bowlers and fielders were put under pressure and didn't really come out shining in this particular spell of the game. A stand approaching a century in about 20 overs gave Hatch End something to defend. Several bowling options were tried before Nir Shah, playing his last game for several months, nipped through the number 10s defence to get the welcome break through. Number 11 came and went quckly, caught and bowled by Marcus Cara and the innings ended on 176.

This total was not expected to be a major problem with 50 overs to chase it in and openers Nir Shah and Felix Charles settled any minor nerves by getting the innings off to a solid start. After some glorious boundary shots and a towering six over mid wicket, Nir was unlucky to get a 'shooter' on 25 and more of less 'walked' before the finger came up for his LBW.

Phil Smith joined Felix at 39-1 and the pair moved the score on rapidly, taking toll of some pretty ordinary bowling from the Hatch End attack. Smudger was in an uncharacteristically attacking mood as he dispatched 3 sixes over the square leg boundary in quick succession, to add to his ever growing tally of life time maximums. Marcus Cara came to the crease after Felix departed for 36, to a decent 'in ducker' from the hosts best bowler. If anything the run rate accelerated further as Marcus, in the form of his life at the moment, took toll of some leg side freebies and friendly half volleys.

Smudger reached his 50 and as the finish line approached, the only interest remaining was whether Marcus would win several bets by also reaching a half century before the target was overhauled. Needing just two more to reach the landmark he tried to slog a low straight one into the Elstree Road and was cleaned up. Danny Potter completed a bad day at the office by holing out for just 1, before brother Andy hit the winning runs on the 5th ball of the 25th over.

30 points and still at the top of the league but most of the major challengers also won and there are 3 or 4 sides snapping at our heels. The Village will look to keep up their momentum against Pirton at home next week.