The 4s were back at Long Sutton as we searched for a return to winning ways. Overton were the visitors, and were entertained by Hursty's attempts at marking a boundary line, as our slightly-changed 4s team featuring five junior players were keen for a change of fortune.

The skipper won the toss and chose to bat, and Aidy and Matt went out to open. The pair made steady progress to see off the new ball while rotating the strike nicely, and while our James, Drew, Charlie and Leigh went through a lengthy process of trying to set up the frogbox.

One short ball saw Aidy deposit the ball towards the fine leg boundary and bouncing into the field, rendering it missing. After a few balls of the spare, it was replaced by another ball, only for the bowler to send down a beamer first ball!

With sunshine and late 20s forecast, the team had taken the necessary precautions. Unfortunately it started raining for most of the first 20!

Matt and Aidy reached 60-0 at drinks and were now looking to push on. Aidy (43) was caught at long-off trying to find the boundary, while the in-form Thomas Clothier (5) could only offer catching practice to point trying the same shot, as the sun started to come out.

This brought St John to the crease and he was eager to get on with things. A flat six down the ground, a pull shot that had square leg umpire Dibble diving for cover, and a pick up into the bushes at midwicket the highlights of a very important innings which injected some energy into the innings.

At the other end Matt kept rotating the strike and was finding the boundary too, including a lovely drive to a wide long-on. With the fielder making a beeline to the bushes, Leigh made it clear where he thought the ball was “too far right, too far right, too far right”. Thankfully the fielder ignored him, continued straight on his line and found the ball immediately!

St John (47 off 32) was bowled to bring Charlie Green to the crease. CG (21*) took a bit of time to start but soon had his long leavers going, including one six which had those of us at the scorers table diving for cover. Boundaries from the pair including a classy push through long-on from Matt (79*) led us to a competitive 223-3 in the now baking heat.

A superb tea was enjoyed by all, prepared by Charlie T and St John, and supplemented with welcome additions from Claire and Caroline. Thank you all!

Charlie Thomas and the skipper opened up as we looked to defend the target. The pair kept things tight but couldn't find the breakthrough, and were replaced by Hursty and Ollie McConnell. Hursty bowled dangerous lines and lengths and was finding good shapes away from the right-handers, but it was Ollie (1-33) who got our breakthrough, as the batter dragged on a short ball, 64-1.

We kept plugging away, and though breakthroughs weren't coming easily, we were able to cut off the boundaries, with particular shout outs to the fielding of Thomas, Ollie and Drew for saving valuable runs. Charlie Green (0-24) and James entered the attack, with both bowling dangerous deliveries, and James beating the outside edge of the opener for St John to whip the bails off, 109-2.

The skipper turned to Charlie Thomas as we continued to look to build scoreboard pressure, and he struck an excellent partnership with James. This pressure eventually told, with CT taking a tidy caught and bowled, 139-3.

Charlie T (1-28) finished his spell and was replaced by Hursty so settled back into his areas, but it was James who now picked up the wickets. A clean bowled, a caught & bowled and a safe catch from Charlie G ripped the heart out of the middle order, before Hursty picked-up a wicket thanks to the safe hands of Thomas at midwicket, 178-7.

James (4-37) was replaced by the skipper as we looked to close things out. Hursty (2-27) found an edge through to St John as we felt close at 190-8, Overton needing 34 from 3.

Unfortunately 9 and 10 could both bat and we weren't helped by some wides from the skipper. Thankfully Aidy (0-5) bowled a very tidy penultimate over, and despite the skipper throwing out the full toss with five to win off the last, the batter could only cloth it to cow corner, Overton ending 220-8.

A superb team performance, with everyone contributing to get us over the line. Really proud of everyone.

Huge thanks to Paul preparing a superb pitch which facilitated a terrific game of cricket, Claire and Nat for being heroic all day, Dibble for umpiring for us, Caroline for the strawberries and brownies, and everyone who came to watch.

Player of the match: James Blackwell - his 4-37 wrestled the game back in our favour, plus fielded excellently.

Muppet of the week: None - no worthy candidates