After winning the toss, we elected to bat first. We started ok but lost wickets just as partnerships were growing, and as Mark Dean (11), Dave Beard (16) and Dave Taylor (2) headed back to the Pavillion with the score at 59-3 we needed something substantial. And, as if by magic, that's what came next! Ed Foulds batted absolutely superbly (once again), leading the way with a brilliant 84. He received fantastic support from James Davies (37), as the pair put on a heroic 106 for the 4th wicket - a brilliant effort! Mike Cox (14), along with useful bits and bobs from the other players, helped us to surpass the 200 run mark for the first time this season as we closed on 201-8 off of the full 40 overs. The team felt that this was a decent posting that could be defended with a bit of hard work in the field.

Farnsfield CC came out of the blocks pretty sharpish, reaching 47 without loss from Ben Perkins' (5 overs, 0-17) and Zak Berridge's (4 overs, 0-17) opening spells. Hayden Cox came on at the first change and struck with his first ball, as the batsmen nicked it behind where Dave Beard took an absolutely amazing one-handed diving catch that was virtually behind him! We were back in the mix... Ben Tomlinson (5 overs, 1-31) bowled from the other end and also got a wicket. However, Farnsfield then steadied themselves and rebuilt to reach 90-2 as the game sat on a knife's edge.
Then came the key five minutes of the game... Hayden ran in and the batsman smashed it in the air for James Davies to take the catch at cover. Next ball, Hayden clean bowls the other batsman! So, hat trick ball... Hayden steams in again...the batsman edges it and it flies, at chest height, to Ed Foulds at second slip...there’s a juggle...and another juggle... the entire team was thinking, "just catch it Ed, this isn’t a day out at the bloody circus!!!" IT IS HELD! A first-ever hat trick for Hayden! Well done young man, finishing with fine figures of 4-21 off of 6 overs!
At the halfway point, with their score at 90-5, we felt the game was ours. However, Farnsfield again came back and their batsmen Matt Millns looked dangerous. As the hosts progressed to 135, their required run-rate dropped to about 5-per-over and we started to feel a bit of pressure. Nevertheless, we found a brilliant combo in Ed Foulds (8 overs, 1-30) and Simon Dean (6 overs, 2-28) who dried up the runs. Ed trapped Millns LBW and Simon picked up 2 in quick succession to put us in control, with Farnsfield finally falling short on 178-8 off of their 40 overs.

It was a great relief and an amazing feeling for the 1st XI as they returned to winning ways after a difficult period without a win. Although there was a couple of stand out performances in Ed and Hayden, everyone contributed and it was an excellent team effort.

Next weekend, there is essentially a rematch as we will welcome Farnsfield CC to the Leaping Bar ground. Let's hope for a repeat of this result in the reverse fixture!