3's lose to Parkfield & Headstone

The 3's were away at Parkfield & Headstone 2nd XI on a warm day.

The skipper lost the toss and the Village were asked to bat.

James Thompson (12) and Piers Jenkins (1) started the innings for the Village and started well as the skipper scored a couple of boundaries to get the Village to 18-0 off the first 5 overs. The first ball of the next over though so Piers depart as he edged behind which brought Farzan Dulker Nain (17) to the crease who in the same over hit 2 consecutive boundaries. The skipper was next to go after looking comfortable as he edged one to 1st slip which meant Kudzi Makopa (3) was next in to join Farzan but he followed shortly after as he was caught and then after Farzan had hit another boundary he was next out bowled to leave the Village 49-4 off 14 overs. Dave Wing (22) and Joe Ellis (1) were the next men in for their first appearances of the season, Dave looked solid and Joe was able to stay with Dave to try and rebuild the innings. Dave was finding the boundary and the score had ticked onto 70 before first Joe was trapped LBW and then the same fate struck Dave in the same over as after 22 overs the Village were 71-6. Mohamed Salahudeen (39) and Anthony Smith (10) were the next to the crease and with 18 overs still to bat they knew a partnership was required to get the Village to a total they might be able to defend. Smudge was playing sensible and Mohamed was starting to find the boundary as the run rate and partnership increased as the 100 was brought up and the pair were looking good to maybe get the Village to a total around 150 as Mohamed took 14 off one over with 3 boundaries, one of which was a 6. The pair had taken the total to 122 bringing up a 50 partnership but then Mohamed went for another big hit and was caught on the boundary and the very next ball Smudge looked to play one over the top and he was also caught. Andrew Godfrey (5*) and Tommy Smith (0) were next in but Tommy didn't last long as he was caught before Femi Erbahor (0) was the last man out as he was bowled from his first ball faced as the Village had ended on 127.

Andrew Godfrey (3-13) and Tommy Smith (2-33) opened the attack for the Village and both stated well with Tommy's 2nd over producing the first wicket as he got the edge of the number 1 batsman with Farzan taking a regulation catch. Godders then got in on the act as a double wicket maiden in his 4th over saw both batsmen bowled leaving the oppo 27-3. The number 2 batsmen for Parkfield & Headstone was playing nicely and looked like he was determined to stay in but Tommy's 5th over of his spell produced his 2nd wicket thanks to a running catch from Kudzi Makopa to dismiss him. The next wicket to fall was off of Godders 7th over as he got the edge of the number 5 batsman with Farzan doing the rest to leave the oppo 52-5 off of 13 overs and the Village were sniffing a victory especially as Godders was bowling exceptionally well with his last 5 overs of his 8 over spell not going for a single run and picking up 3 wickets in the process. James Thompson (0-24) had replaced Tommy but the number 6 batsmen for the oppo was beginning to open his arms and if the Village were to win they would need to get him out quickly. In the skippers 2nd over the number 6 batsman offered up a chance to cover but unfortunately Joe couldn't hold on and a big chance had gone. Kudzi Makopa (0-41) replaced Godders but he could not stem the tide of runs. Tommy came back on to replace the skipper to see if he could pick up a crucial wicket but the number 6 and number 7 batsmen didn't offer up a further chance and the victory was brought up in the 25th over.

A lack of runs again cost us the victory with only Mohamed and Dave making any real contribution to the Village total. The opening bowlers for the Village were excellent to restrict the oppo to 52-5 but a lack of bowling depth and a missed chance at a crucial stage cost us a victory. Godders was exceptional with his bowling and was easily the best player for the Village thanks to his impressive bowling with a double wicket and a wicket maiden in his 6 maidens. Next up is a crucial game against St Albans with a win likely to save us from relegation.