If you saw the pictures of the Trent Bridge Test match wicket on the 4th and 5th days you will have some idea of how Southover is currently playing. I think it is fair to say it is not a belter!

Smiler won the toss and decided first knock was the way to go.

The now familiar opening partnership of Andy V and me were to set the Sundowners on their way.

Andy facing the first ball of the day ballooned a shot to backward point who dropped a sitter. V had his first life.

Batting wasn't easy. The ball was both shooting and bouncing like a tennis ball from a length.

We moved the score along quite nicely, and with the score on 41 I got a shooter that was unfortunately very straight.

Smiler came in to replace me. Together he and V slowly moved the score along towards three figures.

CSN bowlers were doing a fine containing job, including the aptly named Luckie who was to bowl his 11 overs for only 17 runs.

Indeed it was the 40th over with the score on 129 that our next wicket fell. Smiler sensing urgency was needed tracked Tariq and was miles out of his ground when he was stumped.

The Ronaldsway pairing of V and stumper Mick McGowan were now in partnership.

Mick opened his account 1st ball with a pulled 6 and set the tone for the rest of his innings.

V meanwhile was plodding along towards a second fifty of the season. What he didn't contend with was the running of his long term mate.

Mick called a sharp single and V was left like the like a beached whale on 49.

Smiler prolonged our innings until the 51st over when he deemed we had scored enough to declare. Jani, Golds, Sean and PF (not out) all contributed single figures to drag our score up to 187 for 7, whilst Mick scored a quick fire 39.

Following a splendid tea we were confident of bowling out CSN, knowing how difficult it was to bat on the Southover track.

Dom, lacking wickets of late, made the breakthrough early on, bowling Church Streets opener in the first over with only 2 on the board.

We were on our way. We were not, however, ready for the fielding display we were to dish up for the next hour or so.

Having fielded like heroes against Washington the previous week, our catching gremlins were back.

We proceeded to drop 8 catches before the end of the day, some easier than others, but the net result was that we were struggling to win a game we should have won easily.

Tariq played some fine shots in his 73, but he should have been out two or three times before a loose leg side ball of mine was snaffled neatly at backward square leg by Sean Stroud.

"The Cat" was wheeling a way and was slowly making in roads, but CSN were closing in on our total with wickets in hand.

Dom came back to bowl down the hill and bowled Shak for a golden. Shortly after, Smiler was forced to take him off as the light faded. A slower attack was required if were to finish the game.

I came back to partner Cat. We were steadily getting wickets and the match was getting tight.

With two overs to go we needed 1 wicket, CSN needed two runs, to win. Things could not have been tighter.

The Cat was up to the task. With the aid of the juggling (fast becoming his trade mark) Mick behind the sticks we snuck home. Cat finished with 4 for 64 from his 15.3 overs.

Oh, by the way, my first ball (the hat-trick one) was crap and disappeared for a boundary.

Not one of our better performances, however, it was another win to mark down in our August run.

On to the days winners and losers;

The Winners:

Us ……just

The Losers:

Any bowler in our team relying on catches for wickets

Next week we travel to Liverpool for our annual fixture against Upton and the revellery that accompanies the fixture.