3's beat top of the league

The 3's last home game of the season was against top of the table Parkfield & Headstone II.

The skipper won the toss and decided to bat first to post a total to defend.

Inthikhab Mazeez (67) and Pete Jaffe (25) opened the innings for the Village and started brightly as both got going straight away. The run rate was ticking along nicely at 3 an over and with no wickets down the openers were providing the perfect platform for a good total. The 15th over brought the first wicket to fall as Pete was caught to bring James Thompson (1) to the crease but he would only last a couple of overs as he was caught by the wicket keeper trying to sweep. Mohamed Salahudeen (12) was next in to join Inthi but he would not last long as a quickfire innings saw him depart 5 overs later to leave the Village 71-3 off 22 overs. Aakif Mafahir (9) was next in and he and Inthi put on 25 for the 4th wicket before Aakif was bowled to bring Kudzai Makopa (4) to the crease who was next man out as he was also bowled as the Village were 110-5 off of 31 overs. Graeme Burton (1) was bowled the next over, then 2 overs later Gabriel Radus (5) was bowled. Mathan Mahalingam (1) was next in and while at the crease Inthi brought up his well deserved 50 before Mathan departed as he was bowled. Dave Knight (1) was out the next over also bowled which left Tommy Smith (4*) as the last man. He and Inthi put on 13 valuable runs before Inthi was caught as the Village were all out for 150.

Tommy Smith (1-26) and Mathan Mahalingam (0-17) opened the bowling for the Village and it was clear that the opposition were in the mood to finish the game early and attack at every opportunity as the first couple of overs went for runs. Tommy got the breakthrough as the opener was adjudged LBW, 28-1. After 10 overs and with Parkfield & Headstone 43-1 the skipper brought on both Aakif Mafahir (1-31) and Graeme Burton (5-29) to replace the opening pair and in Graeme's 2nd over he had his first wicket as he bowled the number 3. The next would come in his 3rd over thanks to a catch from Gabriel Radus as he juggled one at slip and in his next over another wicket would fall as he bowled the number 5 batsman. His 5th over would bring 2 wickets as he first had the number 2 batsman caught by Aakif Mafahir after he had passed 50 before bowling the number 7 batsman to leave the opposition on 82-6 off of 20 overs. Then the number 6 & 8 batsmen put on a brief partnership before Aakif got his wicket in his final over as he bowled the number 8. Inthikhab Mazeez (2-14) and Mohamed Salahudeen (0-2) replaced Graeme and Aakif and Inthi would get joy in his 3rd over as he got the wicket of the number 6 batsman courtesy of an excellent catch by Gabriel at gully. His next over saw the end of the game as the number 10 was bowled to leave the number 9 batsman stranded as the number 11 had gone home as the innings finished 126 all out.

Another good performance from the Village with the stars being Inthikhab Mazeez with his 67 with the bat and 2 wickets with the ball and Graeme Burton with his 5 wicket haul, who bowled superbly. Pete Jaffe ablely assisted Inthi up top to get the Village off to a good start with the bat and then the bowling and fielding was good to see the Village easily defend 150. The Village stay 3rd and still have a slim outside chance of promotion but will have to rely on results going their way.