Cumnor 2nd 268-7 (W Tuffley 70, I Belcher 52, P Burt 37, M Evans 35, M Hunter 33, J Griffiths 4-67), Kimble 225-7 (R Priestly 83, J Griffiths 35, A Cox 3-70).

What a difference a week makes!

Finally, I lose the toss! Surprisingly, Kimble but us in to bat. They obviously saw us as an easy 30 points.

They were mistaken!

Hunter and Belch got us off to their usual good start with an opening partnership of 87 from 16 overs. Belch, batting imperiously, once again managed to get under the skin of the opposition and when he was finally out for 52, the Kimble players sent him on his way back to the pavilion with some rather nasty language.

This set the tone, and I was pleased, as we always play better when there is an edge to the game.

Our innings progressed with Tuffes top scoring with 70 and good contributions from Malc (35) and once again Burty (37) who is arguably our most consistent batter in his role as our Number 6 finisher! The innings was soured by their umpires’ decision to give Tuffes out LBW when the ball was clearly missing leg stump by a long way. Even the wicket-keeper didn’t appeal and looked slightly embarrassed when the umpires’ finger seemed to go up almost before any of the Kimble players had appealed. Tuffes was batting brilliantly and, his dismissal certainly reduced our total by 40 or 50 runs and cost him his maiden centaury.

Our final total of 268 was about par on another Mick Deakin motorway so we would have to bowl and field well to defend it.

Jules would be the first to admit that is recent form has been poor and when I took his first ball in front of second slip I think all our hearts sank. However, this was his last aberration. He bowled brilliantly and dismissed their opening batter with the ball of the season so far that swung away and then nipped back to take all three. He finished with figures of 12 overs 3 maidens 38 for 1.

Tuffes bowled well at the other end and removed their other opener with some well directed in-swing bowling.

With the openers removed we used to Sladey and Coxy to turn the screw. They both bowled tightly and winkled out five of the Kimble batters between them so that we were able to attack for the last few overs to try and win the match.

The Cumnor out-fielding was simply brilliant all day with two good catches from Hunter and an unnecessary diving catch from Tuffes. Special mention to AK who refused to be passed and saved a further 20 runs to add to the 19 he already had in the bank.

Kimble hung on for the draw. Having been inserted on such a good batting pitch 17 points was about as good a haul as we could have expected.

Well Done everybody!