We welcomed our friends from deepest darkest Essex (technically their ground is in Essex to a sunshine day at Radlett. The ground looks good the bar is well stocked and the players are well stoked. Once again the scorer is late (a recurring theme this year).

The toss is tossed and the toss is won by Rahil who decides to bowl and Ross takes his customary position near the sight screen at the ;lower ground end, deposits his orange lucozade and approached the umpire ready to bowl first for the 200th time in a 2nd team jersey. 2 fours by the burly Hussain and 2 wides and its 10 for 0 off 1. Triple Threat opens at the Pavilion end although he would love to operate at the lower ground end. 7 are scored and its 17 for 0 off 2. What's this we've heard about them losing early wickets. Chip has over 3 and this goes for 4. 21 for 0 after 3. Not what Rahil had in mind,

Enter the DSj to bring it back and its 24 for 0 after 4. Chippy then bowls Patel for 6 and completes a maiden., Not to be outdone Dan gwt Hussain caught behind by NElson and its 24 for 2 and then edges closer to Ross's wicket tally when he snares Drury by bowling him and its 26 for 3 after 6,
The next 7 overs are seen out and the score edges along thanks to our good ground fielding and tight bowling. Troy making a May guest appearance replaces Ross and creates mayhem when Foster is run out with Dommett selling him down the river. 48 for 4 with 15 gone. Scoring is hard, bowling is tight and fielding superb. Rahil brings himself on to replace triple and he and Troy starve the scorers of action. Rahils first 3 overs are maidens and the better Barrett has gone for 2. 23 overs and its 66 for 4 . The crowd has grown to 6 and Rahil in front of the lapping parents snares Osborne LBW and its 66 for 5 after 24 and after 25.
Im trying to make this exciting folks!!!!!!
Over 26 yes you guessed a maiden
Troy is replaced by the ageing Michael Lee who is now a spinner after 34 years of medium dobbers. What happens is magis as Mickey snares Dommett getting him run out by Sid and Nicky. Next over (28) raz has Waugh caught by Troy and runs are hard to come by and its a surprise when Mick is hit for 8. Young Aadit replaces Mickey with his chinamen.
Meanwhile Rahil has bowled 10 overs 5 maidens 2 wickets 21 runs.
Keeping with Spin Sidd comes on and the 2 embryos bowl well and tightly when Louis Claytoin runs out Hodges for 13. Its been turgid in trhe scorebox but great on the field and its 115 for 8 after 39 overs.
Thew boys are bowling way ahead of their age and our future looks promising and at 120 for 8 Sidd gets Frans caught by Dan SJ and when he bowls Barber 2 overs later Stortford are all out for 127.
Rahil pick of the bowlers but everyone bowled tightly and its 128 to win.

After a superb tea courtesy of Helen Radlett start their reply with Alex promoted to open with Sidd with Tej away and Neel guesting for the 1s. Alex goes early caught off Osborne and this brings in Louis for his 2nd team debut. Nerves er no......Louis plays himself in and he and Sidd are knocking the bowling around sensibly as no risks have to be taken. 10 overs gone its 43 for 1.
14 overs and Radlett are 65 for 1. but we are Radlett.......
Sidd goes to a very good catch by Osborne and Abhijay enters the fray.19 overs gone and Louis and Abhijay are scoring at will with a big 6 by Abhijay and lovely drives by Louis. 20 overs gone 107 for 2 and a major surprise as Louis skies one and yes Osborne makes a hard chance look easy. A very good 53 in even time by Louis and Nicky joins the frey. Abhijay smashes the ball and we are soon on par at 127 for 3. A 7 wicket win is being pencilled in when that nan Osborne takes another great catch to get rid of Abhijay and Troy comes out for 1 ball which he sees out.
Nicky hits the first basll of the next over into the car park and its a 6 wicket win.

Bishops Stortford are rebuilding and we wish them well as we did the same a few years ago.

A good win but we will face tougher challenges.

What impressed me was the fantastic fielding and competitive bowling and sensible batting,

Man of the MAtch Louis Clayton although Rahil was just a short straw behind
TFC (there has to be one) Alex Liddell
Champagne Moment Rahils yelp after his spell