Comfortable victory secures Promotion

After last weeks disappointment, the 1st XI were back at home against Cockfosters knowing a win was needed to keep the pressure on Old Camdenians and keep promotion and title hopes alive.

Danny won the toss and decided to bowl first against one of the weaker sides in the division, which proved a good decision with Andy Potter, on the back of a heavy night out at Electric Ballroom, steaming in and producing a fine spell of bowling which saw him take the top 4 batsmen and produce figures of 10 overs 4-19. He was ably assisted up top by Shash Seem before Majid Asif and Johnny Ellis took over. Johnny making his 1st team debut, also bowled extremely well, attacking the stumps with good pace and he got the rewards by also picking up 4 wickets for just 20 runs and was unlucky not to get a 5 wicket haul as the ball clipped the off stump but somehow the bails remained on. Johnny would also pick up a run out in what was a superb display. Shash picked up the last wicket to fall of the innings as Cockfosters were bowled out for 115.

Farzan Dulker Nain got the Village reply in typical Farzi style and scored a quick fire 17. Devraj Ray and James Thompson departed quickly after as James couldn't repeat the same fine display as Andrew even though their pre-match routines were remarkably similar the night before. Jay Nandha and Majid Asif steady the ship and scored 33 and 42 respectively to get the Village close to the victory target. Both would perish leaving Felix Charles and Johnny at the crease as the winning run came from a bye as the total had been chased down in just 18.5 overs.

A very comfortable win, even with Danny deciding to change the batting order to give a few players a chance to bat and with the news that Hemel Hempstead lost, the Village had secured promotion at least 1 division in Danny's first season as skipper. A win on the final day coupled with a defeat for Old Camdenians would see the 1st team crowned champions and go up 2 divisions so plenty to play for on Saturday.