The 2nd X1 hosted top of the table Chertsey in a showdown that could pave the way for each sides promotion fate. Winning the toss we stuck to our usual guns in the 50/50 format and elected to have a bat. Messers Cox and Pesty set about seeing the shine of the ball and started in composed fashion as the new ball pair looked to attract as much swing from the conditions as possible. Coxy was first to be undone with a ball that wasn’t consistent with bounce seen previous and appeared to be straying down leg. 15-1. Matt followed 10 runs later as Jackman got him to nibble at one and the keeper took a sharp catch. Pesty was in defiant mood and now was joined by the in form Winky as the two set to stabilise the innings. That they did, as they kept anything of a decent length out but latched on to anything short, Pesty in particular ruthless through the leg side with 5 boundaries. The pair safely negotiated us to drinks with a decent platform set at 88-2. As the saying goes though we lost Pesty (34) straight after drinks with a harshly adjudged LB decision going against him. Winky then departed not long after for 29 with the innings now finely balanced again at 90-4. Tommy added 11 before an uncharacteristic shot saw him become one of Drage’s three victims. A handy stand in the context of the game between Brewy and Quinn then ensued as they added 23 before Brewy’s injury got the better of him. 130-6. Quinny provided the rear-guard action with a flurry of boundaries through extra cover and then a contender for the shot of the season off his legs shortly after. We were indebted again this year from a latter partnership between him and Max of 30 as we pushed towards a target we felt we could defend. They succumbed in quick succession trying to add further runs – Max for 17 and Quinny 25. The Edwards duo of Freddie and Wilbar added another valuable 10 runs as we set the league leaders 173 to win on a difficult surface to get it away.

The lads were fired up to get into Chertsey and knowing we had to take regular wickets to stand a chance Max produced a pearler to remove the normally reliable Bussey through the gate. Next the pressure told on young Nuti who sold Robertson up the river with a nudge to Quinn who was quicker off the mark and coolly threw to Wilbar who did the rest. 5-2. Nuti tried to make amends by proving a stubborn resistance but with the tight bowling the visitors run rate never got away from us. Two LBW decisions ensued as Max picked up Nuti and continued to bowl a super 10 over spell of 2-24 and Winky was called into action to break a partnership as he accounted for the tidy looking Duffy. 47-4. With captain Boast marshalling his troops from the crease and playing a steady hand Chertsey always had a sniff. He played watchfully with Harris for a stand of 21 before inexcusably Harris tried to plant Jack Homewood through mid on only to cloth it to Tommy who take a great catch – last ball before the drinks break. 68-5. That clearly was a huge turning point in the game as it was now finely balanced as Boast was still there this time with the useful Anthony. Both struggled to get any rhythm with the economical bowling of Quinny and Jack, the former deserves particular credit for a spell of 10 overs for 24 in the middle of the innings. At 90-5 senior members of the side game together for an inspired bowling change that altered the course of the innings. Enter Freddie ‘the Burglar’ Edwards who produced a bit of magic to remove Boast (30) with brother Wilbar proving a stunning supporting act by taking a ‘worldie’ behind the stumps. Next over Freddie then took two further scalps – one of which was a super returned C&B. Three wickets in 2 overs was a super effort, especially as sandwiched between this was Jack’s second victim of the day. Chertsey were reeling at 92-9. It was down to Anthony to go solo as he gave it a good shot as we lost focus slightly. The last stand put on a valiant 42 before the returning Jack proved match winner as he finished with 3-34 and a massive 20 points for us.

This was a performance full of determination from the side and really was a team performance with contributions from everywhere. The victory leaves us with a terrific chance of promotion with 3 games to go. Chertsey remain top due to the bonus points they picked up but we have kept the pressure on with commanding gap to 3rd place.