A comfortable win at Watton in season opener

After the wettest start to a season in living memory, the Mill Hill Village 1st XI league campaign finally got underway this week in the pleasant village of Watton at Stone. The Village lads felt right at home on a sloping pitch reminiscent of 'pork chop'. Lots of chatter before and during the game about the new Fantasy league innovation that is running for the first time this season and should add an amusing new dimension to player performances.

After leading a vigorous warm up, captain Dave Overton lost his first toss of the season and the hosts chose to bat first. It was clear from the outset that the dampness under the surface would make scoring runs difficult for everyone on a slow, low bounce deck. Overton took up where he left off last season by picking up two wickets in a tidy opening spell. Wickets from the change bowlers Majid Asif (2-15 from 11), Marcus Cara (1 for 43) and George Downes (1 for 17), reduced the home side to 70 for 6. Back came the openers Overton and Saahil Mehra to clean up the tail. At least that was the plan! However the Watton lower order put up some resistance and were able to score freely with the additional pace on the ball. Watton's number 8 hit through the line regularly and easily top scored with 53 before finally being the last wicket to fall, run out trying to keep the strike in the 50th over.

The best spell and figures of the game went to Andy Potter, who having been brought on late to replace the skipper, promply swept away the tail, picking up 3 wickets for 7 runs in a 4 over spell that also saw 3 dropped catches.

The Village batting was as slow and laborious as the hosts had been. Opening with the old ball and two slow spinners was the right choice and made scoring pretty difficult. Danny Potter (29) looked comfortable and threatened to make a big score before playing across the line at one. Hitting straight and in the 'V' was clearly the best option on this wicket and against this attack but despite this being obvious to all, Danny Potter, George Lee, Phil Smith and Andy Potter all perished doing exactly the opposite. Marcus Cara (39) steadied the ship after a minor wobble left the visitors 80 odd for 5. Together with minor but entertaining contributions from Hinal Gajjar (10), Majid Asif (11) and Rory Mcleod (22), the Village got over the line in the 47th over with 4 wickets still intact.

The unbeaten bandwagon rolls on from last year and a 2nd successive promotion is the least that the 1st XI are aiming for this season.