3's lose last game of the season

The 3's were up against Northwood Town 3's at home knowing that they needed a victory if they had any chance of staying up.

The oppo won the toss and decided to bat on a cloudy day with rain forecast later in the day.

George Leggett (0-32) and Andrew Godfrey (1-23) opened the bowling for the Village and both started well with George's first 2 overs being maidens. The number 2 batsman for Northwood Town was finding his feet and finding the boundaries while the other opener was struggling to get off the mark. In the 10th over Godders got the 1st wicket of the innings as he bowled the number 1 batsman with a typical swinging delivery and then the very next ball brought the next wicket as Kudzai Makopa ran out the number 3 batsman as he attempted another run with the skipper taking off the bails to leave the oppo 36-2. Matt Hawkes (3-18) replaced George after his spell of 5 overs and started slightly wayward with his first over going for 8 before finding a good rhythm to work well with Godders. In his 3rd over he picked up the 1st of his wickets as bowled the number 4 batsman and then didn't have to wait long for his next as he got the number 2 batsman out who was looking dangerous courtesy of an excellently judged running catch from George Leggett. Chalky Cara (0-26) had replaced Godders at the other end and offered the skipper control without getting a wicket. Hawkesy's penultimate over brought the last of his wickets as a top edge was well caught behind by Farzan Dulker Nain to leave the oppo 85-5 off of 25 overs before George returned to complete his 8 overs. Mohamed Salahudeen (2-27) and James Thompson (1-21) were the next to bowl but the number 5 and number 7 batsman for the oppo were set and looking to up the run rate. It wasn't until the 37th over when the next wicket fell when Mo bowled the number 5 batsman and in his next over got the number 8 batsman out as Farzan caught another behind the stumps. The skipper's last over was eventful as it went for 7 runs but brought the last 3 wickets courtesy of a catch from Joe Ellis and 2 run outs from Farzan as the innings closed on 160 all out.

James Thompson (17) and Piers Jenkins (4) got the Village reply off to a decent start with the skipper hitting 7 off the 2nd over, 4 of which was courtesy of a lovely cut shot which found the boundary. Piers was first man out as he was unlucky to be caught behind trying to sweep, which meant Matt Hawkes (3) joined the skipper at the crease but the skipper fell 2 overs later as he was caught at point. Farzan Dulker Nain (3) was next man in and soon out as he was caught which brought Kudzai Makopa (2) to the crease but it was Hawkesy who was the next man to fall as he was bowled to leave the Village 33-4 and in all sorts of trouble. Mohamed Salahudeen (17) was next in but wickets were tumbling regularly with Kudzai next to go as he was bowled. Joe Ellis (8) joined Mo at the crease and the Village needed a partnership to try and get back into the game and hold onto hopes of survival. Both were steady as the rain began to fall with Mo being the aggressor as he was looking to find the rope and up the run rate but Joe was next out as he fell to the spinner as he was bowled. George Leggett (10) was next in but in the over after drinks Mo was bowled and the Village were looking down the barrel and certain relegation. Andrew Godfrey (11) was next at the crease in the rain as the youngsters tried to salvage some pride as both were keen to stay in and score some runs. George was starting to free his arms and hit a boundary before he was next out as he was bowled by the young spinner which brought Chalky Cara (0) to the crease but he was bowled the very next over which brought Femi Erbahor (2*) to the crease. Godders tried in vain to score the runs and keep the strike, hitting a cracking 6 straight down the ground but the first ball of the 29th over he was caught going for another shot and the Village were all out for 91 which meant relegation.

A sorry batting performance in a must win game although even a win would not have been enough to save the 3's from relegation this season. Again the bowling was decent with the Village getting the full bowling points with Matt Hawkes the star of the show but it is the batting that has let us down this season with not enough players scoring key runs at crucial times. We will come back stronger next season and hopefully put in a better show in a new division.