3s win on the front pitch

The 3s were at home against Northwood Town III and had the luxury of playing on the front pitch.

The weather was sunny and the opposition won the toss and decided to have a bat.

Alam Khan (3-15) and Matt Hawkes (0-7) opened the bowling and were on the spot straight away. Alam would pick up the 1st wicket as he trapped the number 2 batsman LBW and in his 4th over would pick up another as the skipper took a regulation catch behind the stumps, 18-2. This would become 28-3 as Alam got this 3rd wicket of the day thanks to a catch from Devraj Ray. Hawkesy was struggling even though he got 1st pick of ends and was replaced by Mathan Mahalingam (1-22) and he would pick up the 4th wicket to fall with a fine caught and bowled, 30-4. The skipper of Northwood Town and the number 6 batsman would then dig in to try to rebuild the innings and would put on 44 thanks to some sensible cricket and with help from a few drop catches. Devraj Ray (0-19) bowled a few overs before Inthi Mazeez (4-13) took over and in his 3rd over he would break the partnership as he trapped the number 6 LBW. Craig Atkinson (2-25) would replace Mathan but it was Inthi who struck in his next over as the opposition skipper was caught by Mathan, 81-6. This would soon be 94-8 as Inthi picked up 2 more wickets in his next over thanks to a good catch by Ayush Shah and then courtesy of bowling the number 9 batsman. The score would tick over 100 before Craig picked up the last 2 wickets both bowled to leave Northwood Town 106 all out.

James Thompson (28) and Devraj Ray (6) opened the batting and after hitting a gorgeous cover drive, Dev would be the 1st wicket down as he was bowled. Sanket Shah (4) joined the skipper and also hit a nice boundary straight down the ground before he was adjudged LBW, 18-2. Matt Hawkes (66*) joined the skipper at the crease and the two were watchful of anything straight and would punish anything loose from the bowlers. Both were beginning to find the boundary and were running well between the wickets to keep the scoreboard moving. The pair would bring the total past 50 in the 15th over and then record their 50 partnership in the 17th. It looked like a coast to victory until the skipper missed out on a dipping full toss and was bowled. Ayush Shah (0) was next in and would only last a few balls as he was trapped LBW in the same over, 79-4. Mark Kravetz (1) would join Hawkesy at the crease and would stay in for 5 overs to give him some support before he was bowled to bring Inthi Mazeez (0*) in. Hawkesy would then see the Village home in style with a boundary through mid wicket and then finish with a six straight back over the bowlers head.

A comfortable victory in the end with both facets working well for the Village. Alam Khan and Inthi Mazeez would shared 7 wickets between them for the cost of only 28 runs and James Thompson batted nicely at the top of the order but it was Hawkesy who starred with the bat to bring up his first 50 of the season with some elegant shots. The 3s would end the day in 3rd.