The 4s hosted second place Basingstoke Capital to follow up our win vs Hook last week. The weather forecast had us in doubt, but an early inspection from Paul showed we were ready to go, and the prep started early for Aidy and Charlie who were on tea duty. With Stenners dropping out on the day with illness, birthday boy Safi was called up to bat six and umpire first stint.

The skipper lost the toss and we were asked to bat in the damp. Chaos followed with Nick B discovering that Chairs don't move out of the way when blocking your path, and Charlie discovered how ruthless Andy Clouting can be, somehow managing to steal Charlie's parking space in the time it took him to turn around.

Nick and Aidy opened up and immediately looked very solid in tricky conditions as we scored 13 from the first 7 overs. The pair got themselves in and scored 32 from the next three, Nick characteristically punishing anything short, and Aidy proving that he does have more than one shot…

A solid platform laid but BC bowlers came fighting back, finding good areas, and scoring again became a little trickier. This was not helped by the running between the wickets. Not content with a pair of “Yes-No"s that had Aidy twice hitting the deck, Nick saved his best for a lovely drive out to deep cover. Assuming it was four Nick walked towards the other end, only to see the ball hold up, the fielder chase it down, and Nick ending up returning to his crease for a dot ball, and Aidy lost running back and forth.

61-0 from 15 became 93-0 from 20 at drink as the pair continued to rotate the strike where required and put the ball to the boundary. BC were clearly flustered, having not really been put under much pressure this year.

Unfortunately they soon had their breakthrough. Nick (50) decided to run two on a misfield, the first run was safe enough and brought him his half century, the second just wasn't there, 96-1.

This brought Andy Clouting to the crease returning from injury. He initially struggled for timing while Aidy kept going at the other end, and brought up his third fifty of the season.

The falling drizzle was making life tricky for the batters but they kept going. Andy initially wouldn't have found timing with a stopwatch, but eventually got some big blows away, taking 15 from the 30th over.

Aidy (62) ran out of steam as was bowled looking to go big, to bring Netty to the crease, 143-2 from 31. The drizzle had now stopped but the pitch was now very tricky to start on while damp.

Andy (24) was next to go, getting caught looking to go big, while Charlie (5) followed soon after, also struggling for timing in the conditions. Netty (10*) and Safi (15* from 9) managed to lead us to 177-4 in very tricky conditions against a good attack, but only losing four wickets and scoring 34 from the last 9, there was a sense that we'd maybe left runs out there.

After a superb tea prepped by the Greens, Corbyn and Paul opened the bowling together and immediately found excellent areas and shapes. The pitch had now dried out again, but the pair caused no shortage of problems for the BC openers. Paul pinned the oppo skipper in front, before Corbyn did the same to the other opener, clearly not to be outdone by his Dad, 19-2 from 6, and pressure on!

Corbyn finished his excellent spell and was replaced by Drew, as we looked for a change of pace. After a first over of Bertie Bassets, Drew recalibrated his radar and bowled the number 3, 44-3.

Paul was given a couple more overs, but couldn't find another wicket as the batters looked to block him out, so he was taken off to leave a couple of overs in the tank. Merlot brought himself on, and after a wayward start himself, picked up a wicket as the batter generously hit the ball straight to Drew at point, 58-4.

BC kept ticking along, so after drinks the skipper turned to Freddie, who had once again been fielding outstandingly on the boundary. Freddie struggled to find his line for his first couple of overs as the set bat looked to hit him out to Cow, and was unlucky as a chance was just out of reach above Drew's head.

With runs coming a little too easily, the skipper signalled to Aidy that he'd be replacing Drew next over. Clearly this activated something in the vice skipper, as Drew (2-48) replied with a beamer that was smashed for six, and then a wicket next ball, caught by the safe hands of Andy Clouting at deep midwicket, 114-5.

Freddie (0-31) brought things back nicely with an excellent line outside off, while Aidy (0-11) bowled very tidily, but it was clear that wickets were the only way we were winning this game. The skipper turned to his attack leaders Paul and Corbyn, but the Downham duo conceded 23 from the next two overs, BC 166-5, needing 12 to win from 10 overs.

The skipper kept faith and Paul picked up two in three balls, both batters gloving balls down the leg side to be caught by keeper Netty, who was having a superb game behind the stumps. Thanks to both batters for walking, as they weren't going to be given. Paul (3-31) finishing his allocated overs with a superb double wicket maiden.

Corbyn then joined the party. With the skipper opting for an unusual field of a mid-off, straight cover and a man in between, the bat tried to take them on but could only pick out the skipper himself, 167-8.

Merlot brought himself back on and conceded one from the next over as the pressure started to build. We nearly had a 9th wicket too but it was adjudged to be going over.

Unfortunately though the number 4 was still going and able to see it home, as Corbyn (2-32) and Merlot (1-24) couldn't find a way past, as BC won by two wickets.

An agonising lost, but I'm really proud of the team for the way we once again pushed one of the top sides, and the way we conducted ourselves despite the antics of one of the oppo. Ultimately though we didn't score enough runs from the position we were in.

Huge thanks to Aidy and Charlie for their efforts on tea, and for Paul for his work as groundsman managing to get a game on for us and conducting the early inspection.

Player of the Match: I could have given it to Aidy or Nick, but for his wickets getting us back into the game, and his excellent work to get us a game on when many would have looked to cancelled, it has to go to Paul

Muppet of the week: Nick Bryant, for multiple crimes against running between the wickets