7 Up in victory roll

In form Mill Hill Village visited Tewin for their Division 7 clash this week, looking for a 7th consecutive league victory. The game started under overcast skies and the threat of rain but the weather improved throughout the day and not a single minute was lost. Tewin won the toss, elected to bat and succeeded in utilising their full 53 overs. Rarely have the Village attack been held at bay this season but watchful and obdurate batting from Patterson (82), Williams (41) and contributions from the tail, kept the Village's slightly depleted bowling unit toiling until the end. The Tewin batsmen never really got on top of the bowling at any stage and struggled to cope when pace was taken off the ball, so the final total of 202 for 9, always looked well within range of the powerful Village batting line up. 3-37 from Majid Asif and 3-62 from Graeme Burton were the pick of the visitors bowling figures.

In reply the Village got off to a near perfect start. An opening stand of 121 between Greg Vaughan and Dan Potter (53) broke the back of the chase. 4 wickets then fell in the space of the next 10 overs, which sent a few jitters around the visitors dressing room but in truth the game was always well under control. The run rate never got above 5 per over and Greg Vaughan looked calmness personified throughout. The Australian born opener ended on 90 not out, compiling an innings of both class and substance. Rarely did the ball leave the floor as a succession of straight and cover drives glided elegantly to the boundary, or deep set fielders. Ben Dawson came to the crease with 30 runs still needed for victory and 5 overs left to bat. Barely an over later the match was all over. Using his feet to M. Harihar, the home side off spinner and the pick of the home sides bowlers to that point, Ben hit 26 runs in a single over to bring a rapid end to the match. A remarkable onslaught, which was even more impressive considering the off spinner’s previous 15 overs had gone for a similar number of runs altogether.

The Mill Hill Village winning streak continues and we are now 33 points clear at the top of the table.