Strangulation in Sunny St Albans

The vast acreage of the Old Albanian sports ground was the venue for the latest adventure of the new 3s. Though the side had a new look to it there was some reassuring experience on board - and in a first for TMCC, we had not one, but two father and son firms take the field - Steve and Leo Davis, and Pillai and Neharen Inpan. Both sons are aged 13 so we are managing to walk the tightrope of giving experience in League cricket to young guys while continuing to win!

The day of rain on Friday, sneaked in between several days of sun, left the second pitch at OAs green and soft, and the outfield was lush and green. No surprise that we are invited to bat first (Ahsan - insert joke of choice about the toss record, 0 out of 3!). However steady progress was made even if we had an odd first dismissal, a no-ball for height yielding a run-out, a direct hit. Inpan Sr, Ahsan, and the reassuring presence of Gayan all got in and made contributions, but the partnership that put us in the drivers' seat was between 5 and 6, S and L Davis.

Steve cuffed away poor balls and swatted a six over mid-wicket, and though the pitch hardly helped strokeplay, we crept up and up, the runrate increasing, with Steve reaching a well-deserved 50 in his League comeback after many years. Leo did his job and if he found the dibbly-dobbly bowling hard to get away, he was scarcely alone in this. The partnership was circa 80 and we were feeling more confident, even if Andrew, Avi and Steve L could only add single figures each - momentum was maintained and 158 represented a decent effort.

For the third week in succession Steve L had a new new ball partner and this week, Josh Brittan stepped up to mark out his not inconsiderable run-up. Josh pinged it in getting excellent carry through to Leo, while Steve swung it (no!) - one or two nicks went down and the two OAs openers batted very well in repelling all changes - Gayan, Neharen with seam and Inpan Sr with (very tight) spin.

Then the change to the Totteridge Stranglers turned the tide. Avi took a smart c&b to dismiss no.1 for 33 (partnership of 71) and Steve came back to bowl off a short run. Virtually no runs ensued, the two gave 'em nowt to hit, and sure as night follows day panic set in. An attempted yahoo by no.2 (38) gave Inpan Jr. a few anxious moments before he pouched it - Gayan took a stunner at square leg - Ahsan another stunner at fly slip - and Leo a sharp one off Steve, standing up. All the while the required run rate was soaring, the best way to keep things tight being to take wickets!

Avi finished a superb spell with 9-2-20-1, Steve 9-0-12-3, and after these efforts, along with Inpan Sr's 0-9 from 6, we could attack the tail with pace. Josh, at the end he preferred, really cranked it up and took the pitch out of the equation, bowling two men with full balls, and Gayan attacked by bowling full and picking up 3-36. Inpan Jr bowled the final over with a very attacking field and a few token swings yielded a few runs, but it was never going to be enough. Points in the bag, time for a nice pint in the sunshine, on the balcony overlooking the game on the main ground, very few better feelings than this!