Park pitch plays fine but we can't quite get over the line

Northwick Park - the pitch was fine, which is nice, though the lack of facilities wasn't ideal.

Josh and Felix formed a young and lively new ball pairing, and beat the bat many times, but first change Neil, and spin pairing Eklavya and Nikeal first applied the brakes and then made major inroads. As reflects their contrasting styles, X took 3-19 with his hyper-accurate darts (at one stage he had bowled 6 overs for 2 runs) while the more flighty Nikeal picked up 4-for (48). Neil's 2-28 in 9 reflected his experience while Felix was incredibly unlucky not to pick up at least one wicket, he beat the bat so often. To bowl out the league leaders for under 200, when they had scored 300+ last week, was an excellent effort in the baking sunshine.

George fell to a sharp slip catch, so Sameen and Hassan rebuilt - again, in contrasting styles. Sameen smashed it, including a massive 6 over long-on, while Hassan stroked it, and the counter-attack was proceeding well until Sameen clipped one on to his pads, while several yards down the track - result, lbw, for 33.

Our top order continued to progress patiently via Simon (24), and Neil (44), Hassan being out for 36 much less controversially but also leg before. Josh played some lovely reverse laps but with the required rate rising the lower order had just too much to do and after an excellent game of cricket we closed at 181, just 8 runs short of parity and 9 short of what would have been a superb win. A great effort and let's get back to winning ways under George next week!