Gaieties v Tiddington 03.07.2022 (card)

Pleaded into batting first, we set about things nicely and were, after 25 overs, well placed on 130-1. We then collapsed, losing five for 26. Robbie, Som and Daniel - who hit a spectacular straight six, from a crouching position - ensured we got up towards 200, eventually all out for 197.

In reply, Tiddington's batting was not at all as frail as their captain had made out. But Matthew was having none of it, pulling out their top four in a lovely spell of bowling. A partnership settled, and at the start of the last 20 they needed 115, we six wickets: all to play for. Enter Hugo. First inducing their number six to thwack his own ankle and retire, Hugo spun his way through their lower middle-order, crucially dislodging their captain too. But the four apiece shared by Matthew and Hugo were all the wickets we would take: their hobbled six returned and, joined by a hardhitting ten, saw out the final overs with little alarm.