1st XI win 5th game in a row

A Potterless Village 1s side had skipper James Thompson to thank for persevering and getting a game out at all, on a grey and wet Saturday that looked fit for anything but cricket. Thankfully, skipper Saahil Mehra won the toss and sensibly elected to bowl first in what had been reduced to a 40-over game.
Mehra and Shash Seem started well with 2 maidens in the first 2 overs, and each claimed an early scalp as both openers were removed before reaching double figures; though not before Seem was let down by Devraj Ray and Naz Asif who put down 2 of the most difficult catches slaaash absolute sitters one could imagine.
Asif would make up for his error before long with a fantastic spell of seam bowling and figures of 4 for 11 from his 8 overs, helped in no small way by Thompson behind the stumps with 2 catches, including a stunner that showed once again how strong he is using one hand eyes emoji.
Seem and Obaid Ur Rehman removed the oppo numbers 3 and 4 soon after and it was only a steady and impressive innings from the left handed number 5 that started to worry Village in any way. Asif had removed batsmen 6 and 7 cheaply and it was the left hander and the number 8 who eventually started to add some runs to the opposition total.
Skipper Marcus Cara brought himself on to take control of the situation, but somewhat shockingly his tactic of bowling medium-pace half-trackers over the wicket to a left hander with no one on the leg side boundary, only ended with the bowler telling his close fielders “I've got the yips!”
Ur Rehman made the breakthrough and removed the number 8, while skipper Dave Overton claimed the main scalp with the lefty bowled for 42. Old Choms were all out on the last ball of the innings having put on 130 – aided by 5 dropped catches and 19 extras (regretful sigh).
Village opening batsmen Jay Nandha and Devraj Ray walked out in a determined mindset with their sights on a long and steady partnership in difficult conditions. “If there's no runs in 5 overs it doesn't matter let's just be there, there's loads of time," Nandha told Ray as they walked out.
Nandha then charged half way down the track to the first ball of the innings and swung so hard he spun round almost in time to see himself being stumped. 0-1 and the season's first diamond duck.
Ray went for 4 soon after, Asif at 3 could only muster up 7 runs while Cara at 4 chose to let one go past him...and on to his off stump...for just 11. A decidedly shaky start to the run chase for Village found them at 27-4 before Kudzai Makopa (20) and Felix Charles consolidated the innings with a steady 38 run partnership at a crucial point in the innings.
Quick thinking by skipper Devraj Ray sent Ur Rehman in when Charles holed out on 23, and it proved a useful decision as the pinch hitter knocked a quick 27 off the remaining total, before Overton and Thompson saw off the chase, Thompson sending the ball over the leg side boundary to seal another Village win.
With their closest rivals in the league all succumbing to the weather on the day, this could prove to be a massive 30 points for Village and a crucial point in the title charge.

By Devraj Ray