Against an underpowered Shipton side, we bowled with fastidious parsimony - Matthew's opening eight-over spell, which cost just nine runs and included four maidens, the template for the innings. Som and Hugo followed suit, clean bowling their two most dangerous players with delightful deliveries, before Shomit, a Shipton loanee known as 'Duckers' and Alastair, impressive on debut, closed out the innings. Hamstrung by an exceptionally slowscoring opener - run out for 23 in the 37th over - Shipton never really got going. In their 40 overs, they made 140, for the loss of five wickets.

In reply, skipper and Hugo - bound for an early departure - set off at a good lick, Hugo particularly fluent through and over the offside. After 11 overs, we had 60 and the chase was well in hand. But after Hugo's dismissal for 35, there was a lull, as the low wicket and slow bowling combined to staunch runmaking. Undeterred, Shomit began to unfurl some powerful blows and - with skipper in the slipstream - the total was overhauled in the 24th over, the two batters not out 48 and 46 respectively. For a side that arrived with nine players, including Shomit's thirteen-year-old daughter, Sasha, whose fielding was both stoic and effective, it was handsome reward for the long drive.