3's win thriller

The 3's were up against 4th placed Bushey III at Queens School.

The skipper won the toss and decided to have a bowl.

Mathan Mahalingam (2-46) and Inthikhab Mazeez (0-16) opened the bowling and Mathan's first ball saw the first wicket fall thanks to a catch from Paul Simpson at square leg. The number 2 & 3 batsman then put on a 50 partnership to steady the ship for Bushey. Mohamed Salahudeen (0-23) and Dave Knight (1-23) were the change bowlers and Dave Knight broke the partnership thanks to a smart catch from Pete Jaffe in the deep. Abdul Majeed (0-24) and Joe Sheridan (0-53) replaced Mo and Dave and in Abdul's first over there was a run out thanks to some good fielding from Paul and some awful running to leave the opposition 80-3 after 21 overs. Even though wickets weren't falling at 31 overs the score was 109-3 and the Village had bowled well to restrict Bushey on a pitch that had one very short straight boundary. Then the number 5 batsman really opened up and started targeting the short boundary and the next 3 overs went for 48 runs. Mathan and Inthi came back on to close out the innings but the runs were still flowing although Mathan picked up a wicket in the final over thanks to a catch from Dave Knight and then another wicket fell thanks to a direct hit from Gabriel Radus as the innings finished 190-5 off 40 overs.

Joe Sheridan (25) and Pete Jaffe (14) opened the innings and after the first over had gone for a maiden looked to be positive and score runs. Pete was first man out as he was adjudged LBW in the 9th over to leave the Village 31-1. Inthikhab Mazeez (3) was next in but Joe would be the next man to go as he was caught to bring in Abdul Majeed (77) for his first game of the season. Inthi would soon follow Joe as he was caught to leave the Village 42-3 and bring in Mohamed Salahudeen (22). Mo and Abdul put on 33 thanks to Mo who scored a quick fire 22 before he was caught, 75-4 off of 21 overs which was pretty much on par with Bushey. Farzan Dulker Nain (16) joined Abdul at the crease and batted very sensibly getting Abdul on strike who was beginning to free his arms and find the short boundary. The pair stayed together for 11 overs and in that time had put on 79 runs with Abdul bringing up his 50 with a boundary. Farzan fell as he was caught which brought Mathan Mahalingam (4) to the crease, but Abdul was soon bowled to leave the Village 170-6. This would soon become 170-8 as firstly Gabriel Radus (0) was caught before Mathan was bowled in the 36th over. James Thompson (5) joined Paul Simpson (12*) at the crease and the pair were looking to steady the ship and see the Village home. The pair were able to pick up singles and find a crucial boundary to leave the Village only needing 2 off the last over. Paul got a single to tie the game but with the victory in sight thanks to a short pitched delivery the skipper slapped one straight to mid wicket for an easy catch. Dave Knight (1*) was next in and had 3 balls to get a run and thankfully with the penultimate ball steered a single into the leg side to complete an excellent run chase.

An excellent nail biting win in the end which saw the tightest of finishes. Mathan was the only one to have any sort of joy in the wickets column as he picked up 2 but Inthi, Mo, Dave and Abdul all bowled tightly to restrict the opposition before the fireworks at the end of the innings saw Bushey reach 190. The run chase was well judged with the star with the bat being Abdul Majeed with his 77 but useful knocks along the way from Joe, Mohamed, Farzan, Pete and importantly Paul at the end saw the Village chase down 191 with a ball to spare and keep the Village 3rd.