The penultimate weekend of the HCL season saw the 3s travel to Ramsdell for a crunch game, knowing that a win would secure their survival in Division 4, irrespective of other results. A series of excellent performances had seen the 3s win 3 out of their last 4 games, taking them from 9th to 7th, and crucially out of the relegation zone before meeting with Ramsdell.

After last week's crucial run chase against St Marys Bourne, there were another raft of changes, with Harry Clothier earning his spot in the 2s, with a few faces returning including Laney, Jack Pocock, Dan Warna, Elliot Walker, Henry Terry and Charlie Williams. A well rounded side indeed, but one that had to be at their best with Safi and Lizo reminiscing about a tough day at the same venue last season. Safi continued his form at the toss, losing again - that is 6 out of 7 since his return from the US - however fortunately we were put into bat, on what looked like another good deck, lightning outfield and short boundary one side. With Ramsdell missing a couple of players, similarities were immediately drawn to our trip to Whitchurch just a few weeks prior.

1st Innings

With Jacko running a little late having just moved out of his flat in London, the skipper turned to Laney to open up with Lizo, trusting him to get through the testing new ball spell - this was the 3rd XI's twelfth (yes 12th) opening pair of the season, and Dan Warna marked the 50th (yes that's not a typo) player to have played for the 3s this season. Remarkable. It was Lizo against the oppo skipper C Sams to start and after a couple of play and misses in the first couple of deliveries, Lizo guided the ball to 3rd man for 4 to get the scoreboard moving. Laney played out a maiden from the other end, before the first big moment of the game, as Lizo drove at one that was destined for first slip, but the keeper dived in front and palmed it over his teammate for 4. A stroke of luck for the 3s top run scorer this season.

In the same over Lizo pushed one nicely into the legside for what looked like a comfortable two, but the towering presence of L Shore (a former Hook SPL player that Elliot knew well) and his big arm caused hesitation, as Laney was sent back. The following over saw Lizo get his second life, as he spooned a drive straight to extra cover who shelled the chance. Laney settled in at the other end and got off the mark with a brace of boundaries through the offside, including a trademark 'hockey shot' straight down the ground. Remarkably in the 8th over, Lizo got his 3rd life as yet another drive flew to 1st slip, who got a hand to it but couldn't hold on as the ball raced to the third man fence. Considering Lizo rarely gives chances this was quite the watch, as he was shaking his head, barely believing his luck.

Laney found his 3rd boundary, swatting a rare short ball through midwicket for 4, before the first change in bowling saw L Shore enter the attack. Elliot believes he bowls at about 70% nowadays, but the tall left armer was quick and was hooping it - after Lizo scampered to the other end, Laney found two more boundaries through point and then fending a ball on his hip down to a vacant fine leg region. Laney's (23) innings came to an end the next ball, as he tried to repeat the cut but could only find the man at cover, but had done an excellent job for the team (47/1 from 10.5 overs).

Jacko came in at 3 and felt the pace of Shore immediately, as his first ball jagged off the seam and hit him just above the elbow - Jacko wore it well but the bruise certainly showed later. He got going with a firm pull shot for 4 off the other first change bowler, as we knew that surviving this spell against L Shore would be crucial in setting the game up for our middle order. The bowler had it on a string and beat the bat of Jacko on multiple occasions, whilst Lizo had settled and looked more at home against the pace, but both batters were keeping him out.

57/1 at drinks was a solid platform to build from, but the bowlers continued to test us, with Jacko just getting a bat down to a searing inswinging yorker, deflecting it for 4 to fine leg. Both Lizo and Jacko remained patient and managed this difficult spell expertly, seeing off 5 overs from L Shore before starting to up the ante when he was withdrawn. Lizo crunched a cover drive for 4 in the 20th, before Jacko dismissively pulled the off spinner Vickery for 4, as the pair also started to push the singles.

Then it was time for the shot of the day (there were a few contenders later but this takes the cake), as Jacko absolutely nailed a reverse sweep to the short boundary that bisected point and short third man - beautiful. The following over (22nd) proved to be incredibly fruitful, with 29 runs coming from it - with the oppo clearly trying to get through a few overs for their 5th bowler, Lizo and Jacko pounced as the bowler struggled to find line or length, bowling a series of no balls and wides, with many of the former being punished to the fence by both batters, including a classic on drive from Jacko, bringing up the 50 partnership in the process. With that huge injection of runs, the 3s found themselves 117/1 from 22 overs, and suddenly a total nearing 300 was very much on the cards.

Some sensible batting followed as the pair ran well between the wickets and pushed a weary looking fielding side. The oppo skipper brought himself on to try to get the breakthrough but couldn't stem the flow of runs as Jacko found two more crunching boundaries. Jacko brought up his 50 (and remarkably his first ever in league cricket) in the 26th over, swatting a ball to the short square leg boundary, before Lizo followed suit just two balls later with a classic cover drive of his own.

The 100 partnership had come up in no time, and a mammoth score was on the cards - alas things aren't always straightforward in cricket and the next 25 balls proved exactly that. With the last ball of the 26th over, Lizo was given out LBW by his skipper, despite insisting he got a fine edge on the ball - that may have been the case, but Lizo's 52 (from 89 balls, 6x 4s) had come after a series of lives and he punished the oppo for it, managing a tricky opening 15 overs before cashing in later (151/2 from 26 overs).

With the skipper umpiring, he told Jacko to rein it in a touch to ensure we didn't have two new batters at the crease, as Dan joined him in the middle. Jacko didn't exactly listen, as the next ball he danced down the wicket and lofted the ball just inches over mid off for 4, before apologising to his skipper at square leg. Dan (0) however wasn't so fortunate, as he chipped his second ball straight to mid off who took the catch on the second attempt (156/3 from 26.5 overs). 3 soon became 4, as after Jacko found the boundary twice (including another near miss with the fielder at short third man), he was trapped plumb in front by an excellent yorker, dismissing him for an excellent 66 (from 51 balls, 13x 4s), as the oppo skipper was up and about.

Henry T and Elliot both got off the mark with cuts for 4, but HT (5) fell soon after trying to repeat the dose, as the 3s had suddenly lost 4-25 in less than 5 overs (176/5 from 29.3 overs), and were in need of some consolidation to ensure we didn't waste such a promising start. Safi joined Elliot in the middle as we reached the second drinks break at 182/5. Elliot was looking in excellent touch, punishing any width through the offside, driving and cutting to great effect. Safi got his first boundary flicking a full toss behind square, before L Shore returned to the attack as the oppo sensed a crucial passage of play.

Both Elliot and the skipper defended resolutely as L Shore's 2 over burst proved testing but provided no breakthrough. His withdrawal after the 35th over provided the signal for both Elliot and Safi to go on the attack. Elliot survived a life at cover before hitting a trio of boundaries in the 36th over — flicking over midwicket, driving straight, before a lofted cover drive went like a tracer bullet to the fence. Safi joined in with a cut for 4, before Elliot launched a huge 6 down the ground to bring up the 50 partnership.

The skipper ran a few risky singles to get Elliot back on strike, but it paid off as Elliot continued to find the boundary with ease, with 'Prince Charming' bringing up a brutal 50 in the 39th over. With the score passing 240 with 6 overs to go, 300 was back on the cards — Safi hoicked another to the short boundary before Elliot cleared the front leg and smoked his 2nd six over long on. Safi (26) eventually fell skying to mid on, but the partnership of 81 had steadied the ship and then launched again.

G joined Elliot and rotated strike expertly, as even L Shore's return couldn't stem the flow, with Elliot crunching another cover drive for 4. Elliot rivalled Jacko's on drive from earlier in the penultimate over, before G hit a one bounce 4 over midwicket. Elliot's fun (79 from 55 balls, 13x 4s, 2x 6s) came to an end in the final over as his mate L Shore bowled him as Elliot looked to send another over the sightscreen, before Alf and G scampered a few more to get the 3s to an imposing 295/7 from their 45 overs. After an excellent 104 run partnership and twin 50s from Lizo and Jack set the platform, a wobble was rectified with some magnificent hitting from Elliot, who had taken us to another big first innings score.

2nd Innings

Ramsdell kindly provided teas, as the team were confident at the halfway mark but knew complacency was not an option with the conditions and ground dimensions still favouring the batting side. G and Charlie Williams took the new ball and were on the money from ball one, bowling a maiden each to kick off proceedings. The opening spell was relentless, as neither batter could get G away, with the first run coming in the 3rd over from a lofted drive that Elliot flung himself at and almost clung on to — an absolute stunner. Charlie was causing the batter problems with his pace too, with a streaky outside edge flying just wide of Dan at slip.

Some excellent ring fielding kept the pressure on as both bowlers beat the bat on multiple occasions, with Lizo and Dan eagerly awaiting behind the sticks. Laney and Jacko were electric in stopping any singles, with the start leading to the skipper beefing up the slip cordon with Elliot joining the ranks - it almost worked instantly as a drive from the opener seemed to find the edge with Lizo pouching behind, but the batter was adjudged to have hit the ground rather than the ball. A couple of nice cut shots from opener Wilson finally got the score moving, as Charlie was replaced by Henry T, as the barrage of pace from the pavilion end continued. Another couple of streaky edges to third man saw the score edge upwards but the 3s remained in control, as Ramsdell reached drinks at 48/0.

Whilst no wickets had fallen, the opening spells from Charlie, G and Henry had kept the oppo batters firmly in check, with the required run rate rising to over 8 an over. Knowing the oppo would need to kick on post drinks, the field spread a little - the breakthrough almost came 3 balls after drinks as a full blooded drive flew to Dan at slip but unfortunately he couldn't quite cling on. It didn't matter as before the over was up, HT found a searing yorker that trapped opener Wilson plumb in front (48/1 from 15.5 overs).

G was into her final over of another brilliant opening spell, and after beating the bat again, struck with her final delivery. With Alfie and Elliot squeezing into catching positions at cover and midwicket, opener Vickery was tempted into a big drive — G found the edge with Lizo snaffling the chance behind, breaking the batter's stubborn resistance and giving G (1-24) her deserved wicket after bowling yet another maiden (48/2 from 17 overs). HT struck with the very next ball, another cracking yorker just too quick for the no.3 (48/3 from 17.1 overs), bringing L Shore to the crease.

Ash replaced G and was on the money straight away, before HT got his second — Henry's pace proving too much as another drive was induced and Lizo pouched the ball behind (57/4 from 19.4 overs). The oppo skipper C Sams joined L Shore to try to rebuild but couldn't stop HT — after an inside edge narrowly missed leg stump and flew for 4, Henry found another full swinging delivery that cannoned off the batter's back pad and into leg stump (65/5 from 21.4 overs). It kept getting better as Ash's tight line and length proved too much for the no.7, who played all around a straight one (68/6 from 23 overs).

In the 8 overs since drinks the 3s had taken 6-20 in quite a remarkable passage of play. The excellent opening spells from Charlie and G had been followed up by equal quality from Ash and particularly HT, as the wickets tumbled and the required run rate continued to fly. L Shore was still at the crease however, and decided to take the attack to the bowlers — the tall left hander used his levers to launch 3 sixes over the short legside boundary off Ash's 4th over. The ground was simply too small for hitting like that, and there was certainly some relief that we'd put 295 on the board.

Jacko (0-15) replaced HT and received similar treatment, with L Shore smashing one over long off. Safi turned back to the pace of Charlie Williams, who somehow hadn't taken a wicket in his first spell. He was agonisingly close to the big wicket of L Shore with his second ball, finding the inside edge but the ball somehow missed the stumps and flew past Lizo for 4. He struck just one ball later as L Shore couldn't clear long on, and HT settled under the high ball to take a good catch (115/7 from 27.2 overs). With the door open to the tail, CW got his second before the over was out, beating the no.9 for pace as his off stump was pegged back (115/8 from 27.5 overs).

CW (2-16) had done his job getting the big wicket and was duly withdrawn, bringing Alf into the game — who had bowled superbly last week against St Marys Bourne. Ash (1-32) was replaced by Laney as the 3s sought the final two wickets. At the second drinks break, we learnt of St Mary's Bourne's imminent win against Old Basing which would ensure our survival — but we wanted to get the job done ourselves.

Some slightly sloppy fielding allowed the oppo to run two after what seemed like a dead ball, but the umpire kindly cancelled the runs and gave the dead ball. The batters' running seemed to fire up Alf (0-14), who ran in harder and was so close to getting a wicket but just couldn't quite breach the defences of the two batters. Attacking fields were set to entice big shots, as Laney got hit for a trio of boundaries as we chased those final two wickets. Laney got his revenge in the 37th over as Elliot ran around to take an excellent catch at mid off (165/9 from 36.1 overs).

HT (4-25) returned to try to get his 5-fer but couldn't quite do so as the batter complained of the setting sun against Henry's pace. Thankfully no decision was needed as Laney (2-22) wrapped up the game, bowling the no.10 to seal a 129 run win and ensure the 3s would be playing Division 4 cricket in 2027.

Wrap Up

Another brilliant team performance got us over the line, with everyone playing their part. Laney stepped up to open the batting and saw off the new ball, before Lizo (52) and Jacko (66) put on a 104 run partnership giving us the perfect platform to launch from, before Elliot took centre stage and smashed us to 295. G & Charlie W probably bowled the best opening spell of the season, squeezing the Ramsdell openers before reaping the rewards with a stunning 6-20 in 8 overs after drinks, with HT leading the way with figures of 4-25. Standards in the field were excellent too, helping us to our biggest win of the season.

POTM: Elliot Walker - 79 off 55 balls (13x 4s & 2x 6s). A brilliantly brutal knock that helped us recover from a mid-innings wobble to post 295. An excellent catch to boot, and a brilliant character to have in the team and in the field. Great to have you back Els — I know it's less frequent than previous years but always a pleasure.

Well, safety is secured and the 3s are up to 5th in the table with one game to play. Some might argue what the fuss was all about but in truth, the situation looked bleak 5 weeks ago. After winning only 2 out of 9 completed games up to the end of July, we needed 4 wins from our remaining 6 games to stay up, with the top 3 still to play. We managed to achieve those 4 wins with a game to spare - a brilliant achievement, and thoroughly deserved as our performances in all 3 facets have been superb.

Before taking over the captaincy of the 3s, I had two aims for the team - to get promoted to Division 4, and then ensure we stay there. With the incredible support of so many players, parents, volunteers and more, we have achieved those objectives. What an honour it's been to skipper this team for the past two years, with so many memories made along the way. We've got one more game to celebrate these past two years as we travel to Herriard for what hopefully will be some end of season fun.