Hampstead, inserted and not overstrong, started very slowly. Parsimonious, probing opening spells by Jack and Daniel were followed by equally staunching, sticky overs from Finlay and Som. After 20 overs, they were, slightly weirdly, 55-0. Some efforts at acceleration brought aerial shots - a couple going in and out of hands - and wickets, as Tarek and Jonny settled into spirited rhythm, winkling out three between them and substantially increasing the quotient of intensity on display. Hampstead never got away from us, declaring on exactly 200, after 45 well-controlled overs.

In reply, we began fluently, runs not hard to come by. Ellis, who opened the innings with assurance, Shomit and James perished in relatively quick succession, leaving us, after 15 overs, 64-3. In strode Jonny, vanquisher of Stoke Newington. When he walked off, after some heavy blows, the score was 149-4 with 13 overs to spare, and the game was done. All that remained was a trademark Tarek reverse sweep (it was stopped), judicious milking of some indifferent bowling and a touch of comedy, as Ellis did service, in shorts, as Finlay's runner. We reached the total six down, with six overs to spare.

Gimlet-eyed Tim Schneider, merciless in compiling the game's definitive innings.