Gaieties v Putney, 11 June 2023

Once we got to the ground - clumping through long grass, crossing a river, climbing through a hole in a fence - we began our 35-over innings steadily. But soon after Mikhail fell for 34, the rain came and wouldn't relent, no matter how many forecast apps were consulted. An early tea and abbreviated format - now 25 a side - meant we had just seven overs to turn our sturdy platform into something substantial. Happily, everyone obliged, with the Judge, Tarek and Charlie Shephard swinging away selflessly, in concert with the skipper, to bring us to 157-5.

Putney began brightly in reply, but had no answer for the Chair, who ran through their top three in a devastating spell, breaking the chase before it had even begun. Alex Pitlarge, sternly umpired by his father, took two through the middle before Jack Palmer - joined by Charlie - docked the tail, taking three. Putney were all out for 95 in 24 overs, and we had handsome reward for our troubles.