After 3 consecutive wins, the 3s sat top of the table as the ‘promotion run-in’ began by hosting 4th placed Hartley Wintney at Long Sutton. This would be classified as a football ‘6-pointer’ (or in the HCL world, a ’48 pointer’), as a result either way could bring HW right onto the tail of the 3s, or all but knock HW out of the promotion race. The reverse fixture saw the game abandoned with the 3s at 158/5 after 32 overs - it was a shame rain curtailed what was looking to be a close game.

From last week’s comfortable win vs Crown Tavs, we welcomed back Nick B, Nick R, Harry C and Simmo, whilst also handing a 3rd XI debut to Sunday O’s specialist Jack Pocock (JP Jr). Pre match preparations were shared around, with Nick Rudd and Simmo making teas, Paul doing a sterling job with the ground (despite being on baby-sitting duties this week), with some help from Ali Smee and Greg! Thank you all for your support! For the 5th game out of 6 at home this season, the skipper won the toss and elected to bat in usual fashion.

1st Innings:

Nick B and H (Schooling) opened up together for only the 3rd time this season - since 2022, Nick and H have shared 3 100+ run opening partnerships, and were looking to repeat that feat in a crucial game. Nick took strike as the tall HW opening bowler was getting some serious carry, with the WK taking the ball at head height. A thick edge flew past gully for 4 to get the scoreboard moving, but the nature of the bounce in the deck was a sign of things to come. H had seen a couple of the young bowlers in the reverse fixture and was determined to get the better of them having been unfortunate to edge behind in that game. H started confidently, pouncing on anything short or wide, finding his first boundary with a “Clouting-esque” square drive in the second over.

A few tight overs followed as the ball flew past the edge of Nick’s bat a number of times - with the amount of carry, the bowlers may have been getting a little carried away with a shorter length, which meant that Nick was eyeing up his trademark cut. The bounce was however proving difficult to judge as the ball seemed to narrowly evade bat on multiple occasions, to many “ooo’s” and “ahhh’s” from the slip cordon. A quick single from the Club Chair was turned down by H, as the youthful HW side looked very lively in the field early on.

H then broke the shackles with two lovely late cuts for 4 through a vacant third man region. That seemed to kick start our innings, as the opening bowlers tired and started to lose their radar, with a series of wide deliveries totting up the extras column, before Nick did get his fabled cut away for 4 more. Nick followed it up with a lovely drive to the fence, before another creative delivery flew well past the keeper for 5 wides. Another H boundary, this time a crunching straight drive, brought up the 50 partnership inside 9 overs, as the opening pair had really motored.

The oppo rung the bowling changes and it initially stemmed the flow as bowler Darnell was making the most of the variable bounce at the tennis court end, as was very difficult to get away. The pressure was released from the other end however, with 4 byes (it was a tricky day to be a keeper), and another Bryant boundary, this time flicked through the leg side. Darnell continued to bowl well, but the oppo just couldn’t maintain the pressure from the other end as Nick found 3 boundaries from the 15th over - the first was another flashy cut wide of gully, before an absolutely sumptuous cover drive that bisected the 3 fielders in the cover region.

The following over, Darnell almost got the breakthrough, as a rising delivery took H’s glove, but the keeper could only palm it over the bar, as H came back for 2. HW then turned to young spinner Rajesh, who was their top wicket taker this season - the young lad looked threatening but couldn’t breakthrough before drinks, as a couple of singles brought up the 100 partnership between Nick and H. A superb opening stand considering the conditions and the opposition, and only the second 100 run opening partnership this season (after H and Isaac at Ramsdell), with the score reading 101-0 at drinks.

In the few overs leading up to drinks, Lizo and Safi were discussing their dosses of pad rash and started to consider tactical options, namely adjusting the batting order to kick on after brilliant platform set. At drinks, the brains trust sent Ed and Jack to pad up, who were as giddy as two school kids at the end of term, as they raced to changing room. As Nick and H were about to carry on after drinks, various thresholds were set - before 23 overs, Lizo would go in next, before 25, then skipper and anything after, Ed. These were created, expecting H and Nick to need to rebuild a touch after drinks - that was not the case.

First ball after drinks, H absolutely leathered the ball down the ground for a one bounce 4 to signal his intentions. Long on was sent back and H tried to repeat the dose but skied the ball - luckily it landed short of the fielder and H survived. Nick found a boundary in the same over, as the 3s really started to flex their muscles. On the sidelines, Lizo was incredibly selfless and insisted that the skipper/Ed/Jack went ahead of him for the betterment of the team - that team first mindset has been key to our success this year, and Lizo demonstrated it in spades.

It was then time for the opening partnership to end, as Nick (48) popped one up and was caught, falling just short of his 50, and bringing to an end a magnificent opening stand (115-1 after 22.3 overs). It was meant to be the skipper in next, however Ed had cheekily asked the skipper to give him some throwdowns (usually the youngest team member is head of throwdowns, but Harry was giving Nick Rudd a play cricket scoring tutorial!) - this meant that when the wicket fell, Ed had all his gear on, and Safi was about 20 meters from his. Thus the skipper sent Ed in at 3, to play the way he knows best, as we tried to win the game in the 1st innings. Whilst a score of 220-240 would be a good target, we saw an opportunity to take a risk and try to get 270/280, so we went for it!

Ed was soon into his rhythm, but in mildly unusual fashion, as he unleashed an absolutely glorious cover drive, getting his front foot in the same postcode as the ball and hitting the ball along the carpet for 4. Maybe Ed batting at 3 was a changed man. Just a few balls later, H brought up a superb 50 with another cracking shot down the ground - two balls later he went one better by hitting a massive six well into the horsefield that made an almighty crack-sound off the bat. H found some deserved luck at the end of the over, slashing a wide delivery between slip and gully for 4 more as the acceleration was on. The following over, Ed reverted to type and launched a series of boundaries between long on and cow corner, as the oppo puzzlingly did not have a fielder on the midwicket fence - Ed took advantage, as 30 runs were scored across the 26th and 27th overs. Ed was however given a life at the end of the 27th over, spooning one up to midwicket who shelled a straightforward chance.

HW rang the bowling changes once again, this time bringing back one of the opening bowlers, before the oppo skipper C Mogridge joined the attack, bowling some medium pace. H’s eyes lit up when a full toss came his way, but the ball dipped and crashed into off-stump, as H was dismissed for an excellent 62 (off 83 balls, 9x 4s & 1x 6) - an innings that helped to lay a brilliant platform on what was not an easy wicket (158-2 after 28.2 overs). The skipper joined Ed at the crease and was quickly off the mark with a single. Safi then brought out the signature ’slip drive’ for four, as the runs continued to flow, even off the opening bowler.

Some good running between the pair continued to ticket the scoreboard over, before Ed was gifted a second life, after launching the ball down to cow corner (where there finally was a fielder), as the batters ran 3. The fielder hurt himself trying to take the catch, meaning HW briefly fielded with 10. Safi immediately took advantage and slog swept his opposite number for 4. C Mogridge got his revenge however, as Safi (11) flicked the next ball straight to square leg. Jack had barely made his way to the middle before Ed (33) also fell, this time falling victim to an excellent catch at point, as the 3s were now 181-4, but still had 9 overs to go.

Alf was also promoted up the order, and joined Jack in the middle as both batters looked to run hard and rotate the strike. Jack may not have played with Alf in a little while so another lightning 2 certainly kept JP Jr on his toes. Alf found his first boundary with a cracking drive through the offside, before some more excellent running and a tidy pull shot the following over saw the total continue to build at pace. Jack (5) however was then run out after a slightly riskier run was taken after a tight over from the opening bowler. The next over, Alf hit the oppo skipper for a huge six over the sight screen, as he looked to kick on with 6 overs to go. It then begs the question why Alf did what he did next - after a couple of singles from himself and Harry Clothier, Alf (21) tried a ‘Pant-esque’ scoop off the medium pacer, falling on his backside the the process. The ball flew into the air…but straight into the hands of the 6ft 2in fielder at fine leg! Off any of the other seamers, Alf probably scoops that for 6, but managed to perfectly pick out the fielder, for a rather comical dismissal.

The 3s were now 209-6, having lost 30-4 in 4 overs, and were in danger of throwing away a great position. What was however apparent, was that the pitch was doing plenty, and scoring quickly was not easy - Nick and H had made batting look straight forward when it clearly wasn’t. Some consolidation followed between Greg and Harry, as Darnell returned to the attack and was finding plenty of life in the pitch, with the ball flying past the edge of Harry’s bat on multiple occasions. Greg dropped and ran superbly, and then found a couple of boundaries, including a lovely lofted cover drive. Another quick single led to Harry’s (2) demise, as a brilliant direct-hit ran HC out, bringing the selfless Lizo to the crease at the rare position of No.9.

Six singles were taken off the 39th over, as Lizo and Greg manipulated the field well, before an excellent death over from HW saw only 4 runs scored, as the 3s finished on 233-7 from their 40 overs. A good score on what wasn’t an easy wicket, but not as many as maybe it might have been. We took the risk to put the foot down early to try to get to 260+ but fell short after HW fought back will with the ball and in the field. Teas were enjoyed by all (thanks Simmo and Nick R!), before attention turned to the chase.

2nd Innings

Nick Rudd took the new ball to the left handed opener, who after a being briefly watchful, smashed the final ball of the 1st over to the square leg boundary to signal his intentions. Harry Clothier opened up from the Tennis Court end, and immediately showed his wheels as the ball flew through the Greg behind the sticks. The leftie opener was starting to get going, pulling another delivery behind square for four, before flat batting another down the ground, as HW got off to a flyer. In Nick Rudd’s (0-24) 3rd over, he unfortunately tweaked his knee, so had to be withdrawn from the attack. With multiple Nick’s in the team, Nick R was first called ‘Rudd’, and then ‘Ant-man’ (for those who know their Marvel superheroes), as he valiantly stayed out on the field with his bad knee, hobbling around to save runs for the team - the bad knee was later to be discovered as an ACL & MCL sprain - get better soon Mr Rudd!

With Ant-man injured and HW off to a flyer at 34-0 after 5 overs, the skipper turned to Simmo to try to put the squeeze on and make the breakthrough. After a very tidy maiden from Harry, Simmo was bowling to the left hander, trying to cramp him for room - a couple of hoicks to the leg-side were in the ‘you don’t want to miss those’ category, as the leftie continued to take risks but managed to find the boundary again. From the other end, Harry had found a superb rhythm, and was bowling to a fellow U15 (one of HW’s top run scorers this summer), and looked like taking a wicket every ball. Good pace, excellent control, and just an enough movement in the air and off the surface almost got the breakthrough, but the ball narrowly missed both the off-stump and the outside edge.

Simmo’s battle with the leftie continued and almost ended after another leg-side swat fell narrowly short of Alf at cow corner. Harry bowled another superb over, this time to the leftie to finish his quality opening spell. The squeeze really was on, as from 34-0 after 5 overs, HW were now 45-0 after 11 overs, as another maiden, this time from Simmo, firmly put the brakes on the scoring. Simmo was spinning an absolutely web, varying his pace as usual, and literally could not be hit off the square.

Ed Terry replaced Harry from the Tennis Court end - two short and wide deliveries were pummelled to the offside boundary off Ed’s first two balls, bringing up the 50 partnership, as the leftie still looked dangerous. The team needed a break through, so the skipper tried something a little different - akin to the Stuart Broad ‘bail switch’, Safi decided to switch Alfie (Mid On) and Jack (Mid Off) around. There was absolutely zero tactical element to this, both are gun fielders, the skipper just wanted to disrupt the batters rhythm. Lo and behold, the very next ball, the leftie skied a delivery high over Jack, now at mid on - it initially looked like it was going to fall safe, but Jack made some serious ground, to take a superb catch over his shoulder and get the 3s their first wicket! A brilliant catch, which made the skipper claim the assist, but it was a good ball from Ed and a cracking catch from Jack (53-1 from 11.4 overs).

Simmo continued on from the horsefield end, and was starting to find some of that variable bounce. Two balls into the 13th over, a quicker ball flew off a length and hit the U15 opener in the grill. There was immediate concern, but luckily for everyone, the young lad was smiling and all clear to continue after a short break and assessment. Jack and H were a brilliant influence in the field and kept the noise up throughout the innings, as Jack seemed to be Ed’s number 1 fan, whilst also liking the ‘chin-music’ that he saw from Simmo. Thankfully, Simmo didn’t listen to Jack and bowled full and straight, cleaning up the young opener just a couple of balls later with a ripper of a delivery. Simmo almost had 2 in 2, as the ball somehow missed the off stump - Simmo had his second wicket before the over was out, as the No.4 bat chipped the ball to Nick B at midwicket, who took a simple catch. A double-wicket maiden for Simmo, who was at his very best. HW had lost 3 wickets for 0 runs in just 9 balls, as the 3s were firmly back in the ascendancy (53-3 from 13 overs).

Ed was also into his rhythm and was extracting plenty in the air and from the surface, as the 3s knew that these two experienced bats (No.3 and No.5), would be crucial if HW were to get anyway near our total. A 3rd maiden on the bounce from Simmo followed, as H got nice and close at short cover to his Hampshire teammate T Millward (simply returning the favour after Tom had done the same in the 1st innings). Both batters were happy to absorb the pressure, but were going absolutely nowhere, as Ed and Simmo bowled brilliantly in tandem, and the 3s continued to squeeze. Some excellent ground fielding from the Club chair, Alf, H, Safi & Jack meant that 1s turned into dots as the pressure was firmly building in the lead up to drinks. Simmo again came agonisingly close to taking a wicket, as the ball turned, bounced and beat both the batter and Greg all ends up and flew for 4 byes. It was a mesmeric spell of bowling. Ed finished his 5 over burst just before drinks, bowling beautifully and getting that crucial first wicket.

The oppo were 73-3 at drinks, as the 3s dominated the 10-20 over period. However, with these two bats at the crease, the game was far from done, so there was to be no complacency from the side. Simmo finished his spell straight after drinks, with frankly ridiculous figures of 8-4-13-2, and had turned the game back in our favour. JP Jr replaced Ed, with his darty offies looking threatening early on, with the odd one actually turning (Jack’s words, not mine!). It was a bowling change at both ends, as Alf replaced Simmo, but was greeted by two glorious extra-cover drives to the fence, as the batters looked to kick on after drinks.

That however, did not last long, as Jack made the crucial breakthrough, bowling the No.5 with a beauty - you could tell by the disappointment on HW faces, that that was a huge wicket (90-4 from 23.4 overs). The 3s continued to buzz through the overs, as Jack and Alf also bowled brilliantly in tandem, with singles and the odd boundary all that HW could muster, as our grip on the game continued to tighten. Jack deservedly got his second, bowling the No.6 through the gate with another beauty (110-5 from 27.4), whilst Alf was beating the bat with regularity and was charging in up the hill. Another couple of good overs followed, as HW were 120-5 with 10 overs to go, and a required run rate of 11.3.

The 3s continued to manage the game well, despite the batters finally finding a couple of boundaries, HW knew they needed to go for it and we kept them in check superbly as a collective. The No.3 remained resolute, and flashed a few more boundaries away, mainly through the offside, as we looked to take more wickets to maximise our points tally - the batter brought up a well made 50, but it the required run rate continued to escalate as the finish line was in sight. Jack (2-34) finished his quality 8 overs spell, before Alf (1-44), in his last over, finally got his wicket, with a beauty that found the edge, as Greg took a smart one-handed catch, giving us another bowling point (161-6 from 36.2 overs).

Harry and Ed returned as the field came in to hunt for the remaining two bowling bonus points. A cracking first over back for Harry, somehow didn’t get a wicket, beating the bat twice, before a very tough caught and bowled chance went to ground. Ed struck from the other end, getting revenge on the oppo skipper, beating him for pace as the ball crashed into middle stump (167-7). As the number 9 walked to the middle, he indicated to H that he would reverse scoop his first ball - H was egging him on to play a big shot, and the batter delivered (although not the reverse scoop), as the batter sent the ball high into the sky. The skipper called his name under the ball, but was seemingly no way near it - after a frantic run over his shoulder, Safi somehow held a good but comically unconvincingly catch to give Ed (3-23) his third and the 3s their 8th wicket (another bowling point).

Harry (1-23) got the 9th wicket, and his deserved first, in the final over, as one scuttled along the floor to bowl the no.10 bat. An incredibly attacking field was set for the last 4 balls in an attempt to get the final wicket, but the batters survived and HW finished on 176-9 from their 40 overs, with the 3s winning by 57 runs.

Wrap Up

Another superb all around effort, in a critical game in our season - a brilliant opening partnership from H and Nick set a great platform, that allowed us to kick on and post a good score. Another excellent outing in the field and great bowling performance, with good control and penetration from our attack.

POTM: John Simmonds - 8-4-13-2 - superb bowling figures and spell that broke the game open and gave us control during the second innings. Simmo at his absolute best.

The 3s sit top of the table with 3 games to go - we next travel to St Marys, who are 3rd. Bring it on.