Defeat of the leaders edges us closer to promotion

On a warm day at Hitchin Boys School and with the opposition all suffering from a hangover from a team mate's wedding the night before, it was a no-brainer that if I won the toss I would ask them to field in the heat for 47 overs. However this depended on me doing the one thing I hadn't done in 9 games, winning the toss.

Eventually tails had to come up and this week it did. Opening with myself and Matin, I was out pulling to a ball that seemed to have stopped in time at some point and played the shot about a minute before the ball arrived just in time to watch my off bail dislodged via a deflection off my inner thigh. Dan Butcher followed suit miscuing a pull 2 overs later which left us 11-2 in the 6th over. Ali Sayed and Matin occupied the crease well and at drinks we were well placed at 80-2, however as they say, drinks always brings a wicket and Matin was bowled two overs after the resumption. Skippy and Naz didn't hang around and with Yasir leaving a straight ball to be out LBW we were back to struggling at 101-6. Ali (80) was batting really well though and showed admirable restraint on an outfield that didn't offer full value for your shots.

Shahme and Ali Ilyas however provided good support rotating the strike well before Shahme charged down the pitch and missed a straight one. Ali managed to get out with the score on 167 flicking an ordinary ball to square leg meaning that with 4 balls left in the innings we still needed another 3 runs to secure maximum batting points. Chalky being the casual kind of guy he is opted to leave the first ball as a sighter before getting out his pitching wedge to chip the ball over mid off for 2. Being one run short chaos then ensued with Chalky inside edging the ball onto his pad with Ali Ilyas calling him through for a single, however the bowler was following up and tried to kick the ball at the stumps, only to miss and give away an overthrow. This was then followed up by another run out attempt at the bowlers end which was also not being backed up turning a risky single into a comfortable three. Ali then took 2 off the last ball to leave us at 174-8, a score which I would have taken at the start of the game.

After a tea that featured prawns (first time I've seen that!) I opted to start with the old ball. An early run-out following a mis-commumication put the pressure on, but with the other opening batsman taking a liking to the full pitched bowling things were even. However just as I was looking to make a bowling change he played one too many shots and was caught by myself in the covers off Shahme.

Preston then took the approach to shut up shop with the number 3 and vice captain unwilling to play any attacking shots whatsoever. The new ball was taken to try to force a wicket anf the Preston skipper duly obliged gloving one behind off Naz trying to play a late cut.

Liam then entered the fray picking up two wickets via a fine catch at gully from Shahme and a great ball that passed the outside edge to clip off stump.

Al Ilyas picked up his first wicket when the Preston number 7 opted to leave a straight ball before Liam castled the vice-captain with another great ball.

An absolute sitter was then shelled by yours truly off Liam before I made up for it with a sharp slip catch off Chalky. Yas then came on to clear up the tail to leave Preston all out for 95.

A good day with the Village picking up 30 points to Preston's 8, leaving us 19 points behind them and 38 behind Bushey whom we play next week.