Great all-round performance gets us 30 points

After losing the toss, Lawrence was inserted for the third time this season on a pitch that was tinged with green and looked like it would assist the bowlers.

After the headache that was selection this week, we were glad just to get 11 players out on the pitch. Unforunately by the time the score had reached 43, we had already lost three of them! Stealth was out caught trying to relieve the pressure that had been building, Ali was about an over too early in his shot, toe-ending to mid-wicket and Matin cut the ball to cover.

This had brought Naz and Pete to the crease, with Naz particularly fortunate (not for the first time) to have been dropped several times by the time he reached 20. However with the calming(?) influence of Pete Jaffe, a good partnership of 71 then followed with Naz reaching another quickfire 50 just before drinks. However as the saying goes, drinks brings a wicket, and Naz was promptly sent back the first ball after trying to hit the ball into the next street, but succeeding in being caught at mid off.

However this brought Joe Sheridan to the crease and he looked immediately comfortable despite making his debut. He and Pete put on another useful partnership of 32, before Pete was deceived by the slowness of the pitch and cut the ball to mid-off. Joe then decided to accelerate, hitting 10 fours and 3 sixes on his way to an excellent 65, before playing one too many shots and seeing his stumps splayed.

Some late hitting from Lawrence Bird and Shahme Farook enabled the Village to get to 258, a seemingly safe total.

A good start in the field was essential and with Joe keeping, Lawrence was able to provide some mobility in the outfield along with the returning Stealth.

Two wickets in two balls soon settled any nerves, with Dan Penny trapping one of the openers in front and Stealth then popping up at cover to take a stealth like catch off the bowling of Naz.

It was clear at this point that Frogmore were not going to be trying to overhaul our score, with most bowlers figures pretty good owing to the slow run-rate. Dan Penny picked up the next wicket drawing a thin edge, before a great piece of sportsmanship by one of Frogmore's batsmen, walking after nicking the ball down the legside, despite the umpire turning the appeal down.

Ali Sayed then was given an opportunity with the ball and did not disappoint. He bowled with excellent rhythm and once he had found his line and length, was too quick for the Frogmore batsmen, causing several problems. He picked up his first after their number six chose to leave an offcutter which promptly pegged back his off stump followed by a plumb LBW two overs later. The skipper decided it was time for the man of many grips to try to induce some shots which he promptly did, picking up two wickets when the batsmen tried to force the ball. Ali and Chalky then polished off the innings with the third LBW of the innings and a regulation catch to Pete at the end.

All in all a great performance. We currently sit third, but if we continue to play the same way for the duration, promotion should be a realistic possibility.