The 4s travelled to Rotherwick to play Hook 4s, keen to put right our loss from earlier in the season. The skipper won the toss and chose to bat on what has easily been one of the hottest days of the year so far.

Matt and Stenners were sent out to open, and were joined by TC who fielded for the oppo for a couple of overs while their final team members arrived. The openers got us off to a solid start while the bowlers gave little away. 34-0 with a boundary each from the first 10 got us to the first drinks break unscathed and eager to push on.

The drinks seemed to help Matt who played a lovely lofted drive down to long-off for four. This kick-started Stenners (24) who started to hit some boundaries of his own, until he offered catching practice to point and brought Daniel to the crease, 62-1 from 16. Matt walked back towards the clubhouse to chat with Daniel, only for Daniel to shoot past him, clearly meaning business.

Daniel and Matt rotated strike nicely to get us to 74-1 from 20, and after the second drinks break Daniel came put flying, peppering his usual areas down the ground and out to deep cover.

Matt (28) was caught in the ring to bring Thomas Clothier into the crease who was busy from ball one. 17 from the next over showed the young pair's intent, with Daniel hitting three boundaries, including an uncharacteristic leg-side hoick which he didn't get a lot of, but it still had enough on it to race away to the boundary.

Daniel was on, and next over deposited a ball over the clubhouse and the hedge behind it, landing next to a somehow unharmed car. TC had a six of his own soon to follow, though not sure he wanted to take too much credit given it had been thrown over the rope. To their credit Daniel and TC rotated the strike very well, as we reached 152-2 from 30 at the next drinks break.

Daniel brought up his fifty after drinks, and TC, spurred on by news his brother had got out for 49 in the other game, hit three fours in a row the following over, including an off-drive classy enough to earn a flypast. The youngsters scored 90 from the next 8 through a combo of firmly-hit but well-placed boundaries, and impressive running in the heat.

We thought TC had brought up his half century, only for it to be given a leg bye. Thankfully he kept his cool and brought up his first senior league fifty from 41 balls, before being bowled reverse-sweeping for an excellent 50.

This brought Netty to the crease with his son at the other end on 97, and just one over to go. With Daniel too tired to find the boundary, Netty had to keep finding ways to get him back on strike, and after a couple of nervy moments, Daniel (100*) brought up his fine century of just 70 balls, with Netty (1*) delighted to get to share the moment with him, as we ended 258-3 from 40.

After another bring-your-own teas, Corbyn and Rob opened up in hunt for early weeks. Rob took a very smart caught and bowled third ball, as the young opening back drilled back a full toss.

Our openers started very tidily, particularly Corbyn who bowled good areas and was getting good shape on the ball. Rob decided to capitalise on this pressure, telling Drew to “stand as close as you want”. With Drew hovering at a short mid wicket, Rob chucked out a full bunger which the bat deposited over Drew and to the boundary, much to our amusement.

The plan worked two balls later though, with the bat popping one up and Drew sticking out his left paw, 5-2. Corbyn followed it up next over by bowling the number 3, as Hook collapsed to 7-3 from 5.

Hook however came out fighting and were playing plenty of shots, and found a few boundaries, including a back-to-back four and six off Rob. Maverick held his nerve however and had him stumped by Netty next over, 25-4.

Corbyn had finished his excellent spell and was replaced by CT who immediately found his areas and was unlucky not to get a wicket of his own, as Hook tried to consolidate.

We were keen to not let the game drift and the skipper turned to Freddie to replace Rob up the hill. Freddie got the lefthander in his first over, who picked out Rob at deep midwicket in front of the clubhouse, 49-5 from 14.

After a few more overs of accumulation, the skipper brought himself on and took a wicket first ball, as the bat popped up a catch to Drew at mid-on, 68-6 from 18.1.

Drew was soon into the attack himself after Freddie completed his tidy spell. At this point, the number 6 was starting to become a concern as he could clearly bat and hit the ball quite well, but Drew made life difficult for him.

Merlot (2-23) picked up a second wicket but replaced himself with overs in the tank as Corbyn came back, looking for more wickets. Corbyn bowled an excellent line again but it just wouldn't fall for him.

Hook started to accelerate, particularly the number 7, and took 35 from the three overs leading into the third drinks break, 148-7.

Drew (0-34) was replaced by Rob as we hunted wickets, and Rob bowled the dangerous-looking number 9, 156-8 from 32. It then became a bit of a battle of trying to cut-off the boundaries for no.6, as Corbyn (1-26) and Rob (4-41) both completed their allocations.

CT and Freddie were back on, 170-8 from 34, and 89 needed from the last six. CT got his well-deserved wicket as no. 10 popped up a catch to Freddie at midwicket. However number 7 was still a problem and sent the final two balls of the over to the boundary.

CT (1-41) and Freddie (1-42) continued to plug away and hit nice areas, but the no.7 was terrific and still found the boundary. Scoreboard pressure eventually told, and with Hook looking to run two having dropped one into the offside, the skipper ran in from third man, threw the ball to keeper Netty, who kept his call to collect the ball and take off the bails. Hook ending 213 all out from their 39, and no.7 stranded on 98 not out.

A superb performance, led by Daniel and TC with the bat before a strong team performance in the field, all XI players contributed. Nice to see it home after losing a similar-style game to Hook earlier in the season. Huge thanks to Alex Clothier for helping us with the drinks and scoreboard too.

Player of the Match: Daniel Warnakulasuriya

Muppet(s) of the week: Paul and Emma Downham, for taking heavy losses in their battles with the Rotherwick wasps