Centurion!

The sun shined all week and this was good to see given last weeks cancellation due to rain. I won the toss and chose to bat allowing our players to relax in the shade.

In a week where we almost weren’t able to field 3 teams, one of the worst weeks for availability on record, the performance that followed on Saturday was very pleasing.

Nav scored 112 this week

A steady start was provided at the start of the innings with a partnership of 47 between Miles () & myself (30). This set a much needed platform for the middle order. Having stated in front of witnesses the night before that he fancied a 100 on Saturday, Nav set about dispatching every bowler to the boundary. With the score on 153, Rob Dunn (23) came to the crease and he and Nav put on 67 for the 5th wicket, a partnership that saw all 10 batting points secured, and Nav reach a dominating century. Nav hit the ball to all parts and has looked in very good touch since wearing his contact lenses. Since he got his lenses, Nav has hit 69 & 112, we can only hope that this is a sign of runs to start flowing from the Sat Nav.

So we posted a score of 235-8, losing 3 wickets in the last over, our best total for a year, and our best total at home in recent memory.

During the 3rd over of the 2nd innings, Nav had to leave the field due to breathing difficulties, thankfully Nav returned to the field later on and made a full recovery. Harshad bowled a long and tight spell from one end allowing Alex Goring to attack from the far end. Alex bowled a tight line with good bounce and pace, and all this with a boot that resembled a sandle at the end of his 7 overs. In this spell, Alex beat the bat regularly and took 2 wickets to open the door for us. H took a third wicket for us and at 60 odd for 3 we were looking in command, but the Aussie opener for Knebworth didn’t give us a chance. He hit most gaps and when the gap wasn’t there, he simply hit it over the boundary. He coaxed his partner along towards our total. With little over 30 runs to win with plenty of overs left, the Aussie left handed reached a faultless century, he went on to finish 125 not out and hit some huge sixes.

Despite the result, this was a pleasing performance, we set ourselves a target with the bat and achieved it. We fielded very well as a team and I hope we take this effort forward to St Albans West Indians next week.