Penn Street vs Church Boys

Penn Street 180-10 (D. Adams 54; Nousin 6-12) beat Church Boys 145-10 (Jeyanthan 44, Lucky 36; PJ Williams 4-31) by 35 runs

One always has a sense of trepidation when one arranges a match at short notice, ever since Gerrards Cross IV's turned up a few seasons ago (playing strength weak, supposedly) with a busload of eager 14 year olds who all seemed to play for Bucks (Or they didn't, they should have). Church Boys had come from Wembley, and had been held up in the traffic surrounding some lesser sporting event in their vicinity, but were keen and very friendly opposition.

Steve Exton won the toss and had no hesitation putting us in to bat on what looked like a DL-belter of a pitch.

Rob Sutherland fell early, but Steve Smith was in the same stalwart mood that saw him bat for 22 overs the previous week. Coupled with a very welcome return for Briggsy, they started solidly if slowly. David Adams came in when Steve finally fell, and started to push the runs along, including 2 mighty sixes. He was joined by our Graham Dunn, one of our two guests from Hazlemere, who started to push around the ball very elegantly. David eventually fell for another 50, and a final cameo from Thiya Yashoman took our total up to 180 - good, but vulnerable on a good wicket.

When Church Boys started to bat, though, it was immediately apparent that they were not ones to hang around. Nousin, who had taken 6 wickets and bowled excellently, looked dangerous, but couldn't keep the pace and movement of David Adams out. A couple of tough chances dropped, and Church Boys were going well. However Steve Smith held onto a skyer from Thursin, and a ball that clipped the top of the stumps from Adam Tatton gave us a bit of an opening. Lucky was going for everything - his 36 had come off 17 balls, when he swung to leg and Peterjon Williams took a superb running catch in the deep.

Then in an inspired bowling change from Steve Exton, he brought on Peterjon to bowl (having previously bowled only 1 over for 14 runs for us) and it didn't look too good as a no-ball was hooked for six. But then he found his rhythm, and clean-bowled the dangerous Jeyanthan. And then he bowled Jana as well. Steve Exton scented blood, and brought back Goody. Between the pair of them, they rattled through the final wickets, and another fine victory for Penn Street that didn't look too likely at one stage.

Man of the match - Peterjon Williams for 4 wickets and a match-changing catch