What can I say other than what a result against a very strong Harpenden side at their fortress Common.
Arriving at Harpenden I am greeted by the site of a fun fair directly behind the bowlers arm. Harpenden have an incredible club and had SEVEN sides out on Saturday.
Rahil proved what a good tosser he is by winning the toss and in his new style elects to bat. I am sure this is the right decision on a blisteringly hot day.
With Tej sunning himself in the Seychelles Rhys and Krish open up and face the pacy Vidhya and the canny spinner Jack Doyle. Disaster strikes as Rhys is caught by former Radlett colt Bryn Luffman off Vidhya and new man Dan *At Home* Stay walks in and out as he gets an absolute jaffa from Vidhya. Neel sees out the hat trick but disaster strikes again as Krish plays the wrong line to Doyle and is well caught by Luffman. At 3 for 3 we are in big trouble.
Skipper Rahil promotes himself to 5 and they both play steadily and sensibly until Neel is caught at slip by Mike Howard off Downes and we are 33 for 4 in the 13th over. Abhijay joins his captain and in very unlike Abhijay style he plays sensibly and helps Rahil accumulate but he succumbs on 66 when he is castled by Howard. 24 overs gone we are staring down the barrel of not seeing out our 50 overs.
Rahil and Addit played 2 of the most fabulous innings I have seen as they played sensibly hit the bad ball until Rahil was out for 48 in the 35th over when he is given out LBW to Doyle. Tom Palmer hit one sumptuous 4 but was undone by Doyles quicker ball. 129 for 7 after 41 overs and enter the returning Triple Threat as he and Aadit take the attack to Harpenden and he is out on the last ball of the 49 over having put on 49 with Aadit.
Thanks to Aadits brilliant 57 we set Harpenden 182 to win having seen out all 50 overs.
After a very nice tea supplied by Harpenden Ross and Dan opened up against Tullett and the exciting young prospect Bradley (a 6foot 3 15 year old) and Ross soon has Tullett LBW and the dangerous Pankhurst is downed by DSJ caught behind by Dan At Home. IN the same over Laws Mather is caught by Rhys at cover and its 31 for 3 in the 6th over.
Good to see The Wiz back and he is soon in the game and has the dangerous Bradley caught by out 6 foot 3 15 year old Tom Palmer with a skier and Tom never looked like he was going to drop it. Howard was brilliantly caught by Dan Stay behind the sticks. 60 for 5 in the 19th over and Radletts ground fielding being nothing short of Brilliant led by Rhys, Tom and Krish with Neel thinking he was 19 fielding like a demon.
Bryn Luffman came in and took a liking to a tiring Wiz and lost one ball and dented another whilst the obdurate Bell stayed and stayed and saw off balls and dots were adding up. Bryn perished when he tried to launch Rahil into the road and Abhijay took a really good catch under pressure.
Doyle tried to be aggressive and was undone by another good catch by Krish and Neel took a stunner to remove Downes and Bell was caught behind by Dan off Krish. 130 for 9 and we sense a win. Vidhya and Moxham are trying to be aggressive and the returning Rohan has Moxham caught behind by Dan and its 155 all out and a fabulous win by Radlett 2s
General observation was that we won by batting 50 overs and putting them under pressure with great ground fielding and inventive field placings.
Man of the match Aadit Arun
TFC so difficult but as I have to award one Rhys
Champagne Moment DSJ a 4 through extra cover played hockey style one handed.
I'm away for 2 weeks so keep winning and keep happy.

TC