As usual a flurry of changes led to the walking wounded being pressed into service, but even so a good mix of youth and experience took the field at Knebworth Park in the first meeting between TMCC and Lilley, in the North Herts Sunday League.

Bob won the toss and batted as planned, but Plan B had to be reached for pretty soon, as Sherazi just kept on hitting the stumps ... his first five victims (Jon, Kamlesh, Nathan, Theo and Eklavya) had their furniture rearranged as we struggled to 54 for 5, though X's 25 was full of counterattacking strokes, and Nathan's 11 full of promise. Bob at 6 dug deep to arrest the decline as did Chanul, but the latter nicked off to give Sherazi 6-for. With the relative relaxation of pressure from the change bowlers Chris was able to enjoy some time in the middle. As he (at 9) and Steve (at 10) put together a partnership of sorts, Dave Wilson was the cavalry riding over the hill to be our 11th player, which was just as well, as the last three wickets took us up from 70 for 7 to 138.

Chris's 27 featured 5 x 4 and 1 x 6, before he hit an absolute pie to cover, while Steve's 23 not out contained 3 x 4, and Dave's 11 helped take us up to some sort of respectability.

After a hearty Costco tea (thanks, Paul) Chris started his day job and cleaned up the Lilley skipper with a full inswinger taking out middle. However this just brought in the powerful no.3 who, when the ball was in his arc, hit it many a mile, while the other left-handed opener accumulated. Needing to restore some order Bob called up X and Steve, and X soon bowled the big hitter for 24, and it became a tale of two ends ... the opener Abbas playing some great shots while his successive partners could barely lay bat on ball. X took 2-24 in his 8, the second being a low catch by Steve at fly slip - Steve took 4-26 helped by a C&B, an LB, a good catch by Dave, and a big inswinger to bowl the set leftie for an excellent 67. Chanul in his second spell took the wicket he deserved while Chris reeled off three successive maidens ... but at 8 down another heavy square cut saw Lilley got home, after an excellent match, played in great spirit, and a fair bit of rain.