No dear reader don't reboot your computer it's not an error. It is indeed your original correspondent reporting on the 3rds this week,not my beloved 4ths. On another windy overcast day it was Oxton who took first knock on their postage stamp ground. With the veteran PDA at one end and the ever smiling Vijay at the other the openers chanced their arm as they built a rapid opening partnership. Vijay got the first wicket courtesy of a smart catch by PDA. However the joy was short lived with the Oxton number 3 depositing his first ball directly into an adjacent garden. On his 700th career appearance PDA then picked off the other opener but Oxton had already amassed over 100 and your correspondent was fearing chasing a target of 280.
However the change bowlers soon got stuck into the Oxton batsmen. Luke Williams enticed the batsman into an edge that stand in wicket keeper, Ian Potter, snaffled with aplomb. From the other end young Tom Blake decided to rip through the rest of the batting. The turning point came when he bowled the dangerous Oxton no 3 who made a very respectable 60 odd. The pairing of Luke and Tom soon cut through the Oxton ranks courtesy of some excellent fielding with three catches for skipper Charlie Jnr and even a leg side stumping from our " rusty" keeper Potts. So with Tom picking up a six wicket haul Oxton innings closed on 182.

After tea we saw something that amazed us all, yes the sun shone as the good Doctor and I strode to the middle. Ahktar was quickly off the mark with some crisp boundaries and was soon on 16. However he was then adjudged LBW and we were one down. In strode Potts and the Oxton team were faced with two of Gods Gifts, sorry left handers!! After a scratchy start in which Potts had to once again get used to my shall we say idiosyncratic running and calling style we both settled down. It was like someone had sprayed Potts with WD40 as any hint of rustiness soon evaporated as he set about the Oxton bowlers with some fine hitting. I was content to watch the fireworks at the other end and we soon passed 100 and looked to be motoring to our target. But just when you think it's easy the Gods bring you back to earth as on 64 Potts gave a simple return catch and departed with about 50 still required. Charlie Jnr then came and went followed by myself and George in rapid succession. So still 40 odd to win and the situation got worse as young Ryan went quickly as well and PDA failed to bother the scorers. Young Lucca however was steadily garnering ones and twos and with Luke Williams began to chip away at the total. These two took the score to within 20 when Lucca was out. In came our bowling hero, Tom, who showed he could also score runs and with Luke took the score to 179 when Luke perished. So in came our ever smiling Sri Lankan, Vijay, who in the spirit of cavalier cricket did not bother with a guard. With the game on a knife edge it was left to Tom to take us over the line to record our first victory by one wicket.
Some excellent performances today. PDA and Vijay bowled well and Potts was a revelation behind the stumps and with the bat, (although he could improve his calling and running between the wickets)!!! Young George and Ryan fielded well and Lucca showed a cool head when batting as he gathered some invaluable runs. Luke bowled very well and also made a valuable contribution with the bat. There was also some inspired captaincy from Charlie Jnr. However with his six wickets and his winning runs young Tom Blake was the man of the match.

Rob Chapman