Nick Lee

It was with eager anticipation that the Firsts travelled to their first league game against Hawridge for six years. What they found was exactly the same as the last time: Alan Brown either patrolling the boundary asking "What's your name" or scoring and giving a running commentary.

Winning his first toss of the season, skipper Lown had little hesitation in asking Hawridge - who had yet to make a decent total this season - to bat. The decision was soon justified as O'Neill (left) and Thompson took advantage of a green track and some ball-shy batsmen to quickly reduce them to 61 for 5, all bowled or LBW. O'Neill was particularly aggressive, poleaxing opener Penn with a spearing yorker, while Thompson was consistency itself, jagging the ball about off a length. At this stage, the only thing that Ley Hill didn't have control of was the run rate as boundaries flowed from the middle of the bat and the edges.

As the openers tired and after having survived numerous hear misses, White and Ogden settled in. White was marginally the more assured and, in a bravado display of hitting, reached 50 picking up 10 boundaries including four in succession from high-maintenance paceman Ottaway. Eventually, Ogden's luck had to end and he trooped off with the entire Ley Hill side wondering how on earth someone can play and miss so much and still get 29 runs. Having made the breach, Ley Hill poured in through it, mopping up the tail for just 15 more runs.

So Hill to get 156 in 54 overs. Openers Curtis and Lown negotiated the 12 overs before tea with little alarm, but little scoring. This continued after tea until a change in bowling at both ends saw Curtis and Lown lose their wickets to shots they would probably rather forget. This heralded something of a collapse. Birkett (right, pictured last week) inevitably followed his glorious 50 last time out with a golden, Leadbitter and Shakoor quickly followed. From 33 for 0 to 49 for 5, and time for consolidation from Rennard and Lee. These two took the total to 98 until Lee was out to a stunning catch by Daluwatte. With Thompson soon following and the overs seeping away, Hill's hopes rested on O'Neill and Ottaway.

These plucky youngsters took up the challenge and had Hawridge genuinely rattled, until O'Neill took on a cover drive, unexpectedly middled it and was caught at deep extra cover. Hill needed 28 with only 1 wicket remaining, although Hawridge only had 2 overs left from a front line bowler (Lown controversially invaded the pitch to ensure that the batsmen knew this). Sadly, it was enough as Fayaz found the edge of Ottaway's bat to leave the Hill 18 runs short. A disappointing batting performance.

Hawridge: 155 all out (Liam O'Neill 3 for 53, Rob Thompson 2 for 24, Seb San Martin 2 for 32)
Ley Hill: 137 all out (Nick Lee 33, Andy Rennard 28)

Man of the Match: A disappointing outcome from a hugely promising position. Bowlers Liam O'Neill, Rob Thompson and Seb San Martin must take credit for their early hard work.
Clown of the Day: Joint award to Hawridge's umpire and Bill Philips, the former for accusing the latter of "stealing" a tea, and the latter for taking a swing at the former.