In the end it was a comfortable victory at Knighton for the Thirds as they beat Knighton by 132 runs to retain third spot in Division 9 Worcestershire South.

The truth however is that it was actually much more competitive than the scoreline suggests as 4 highly fortuitous dismissals helped the 3s dislodge the powerful Knighton top order as they set out in pursuit of 243.

To be honest as well, the 243 was probably 50+ light of what they should have been chasing as the 3s collapsed from 166-2 after 25 to 243 all out in the 40th over.

The skipper won the toss and elected to bat. After being mercilessly nagged by Chappo “pick me, pick me to open Skip..pleaaaase skip”, the skipper decided to drop down the order and let Goph and Chappo open…Oh how he will regret that over the coming weeks. Depsite losing Goph to a good un for 3, Chappo proceeded first with Clemmo (21) and then Eckers (45) to build a great foundation for the 3s to go on to a massive score. Mercilessly pouncing on anything short, outside the off stump, outside the leg stump, on middle or swinging away, Chappo, in scoring his maiden hundred, proved beyond doubt that he does, in fact, only have one shot; the hoick backward of square on the leg side. However, he did use it pretty effectively, hitting 20 4s and 4 6s in his 135. He was also directly responsible for getting his skipper out, loudly sledging him and calling him boring after a handful of balls, after which the skipper galloped down the wicket to play a defensive shot, missed, and was comfortably stumped for 3. What a good bloke Chappo is. The skipper’s wicket was the second in a flurry that felly in the last 10 overs: Ed for nowt, Skip, Rob, Chappo himself, Feathers and Ben. This left us in a world of trouble and it was left to Miles (12) to help us to reach the 40th over before we succumbed for 243. A fantastic innings to be sure from Chappo but ably supported by Clemmo who looked good for his 21 and by Eckers who continues to show his class.

Skipper was nervous when we went out to bat. Knighton have some very good batsmen and their ground is beautiful, but compact and bijou, Rodney. A rate of 6 per over is, frankly, not unattainable. With Chappo already cramping up, but insisting on keeping, Goph already complaining and Ed not feeling his best, they took the field. Holly and Miles opened up and already Chappy started dropping the catches; missing a nick in the first over off Holly and off Miles in the 4th. Both of course “fell short” but only because Chapp couldn’t move so clearly counted as drops. Knighton’s skipper looked good but was bowled by Miles for 20 after smiting a few boundaries; it kept low, really low, but we were happy. Holly then matched that wicket as Feathers caught a whack off a log hop with his chest. 37-2 off 10. Feathers (1-17 off 3 awful overs) then proceeded to bowl a load of buffet but got the 3rd and 4th of our fortuitous wickets; a deflection off an Exocet of a drive from a full bunger to run out their opener, and then 2 balls later a filthy off spinner that jagged back from 2 feet outside off to hit the leg stump 3 inches up. 73-4. Feathers was so embarrassed that he took himself off.

There then followed one of the most devastating spells in BBLCC history…not. Bowling some frankly questionable stuff, the skipper, obviously on his campaign to be the MVP, got 4-15 off his 8… We kid you not. Total rubbish but helped by a couple of good catches from Feathers and Chappo and a lucky play on from one of their batters. As he started his last over the team were praying that didn’t get his 5.. and he didn’t.

Ben bowled very well for 0-20, suffering from several “missed” chances, but there was a wicket, when Clemmo brilliantly turned a Gopher drop into a run out. It was left to Holly to wrap up the tail and finish 2-25. Miles had 1-30 and was involved in a fantastic battle with young Jack Caldicott, 13, who finished with18 not out for Knighton.

Fielding was much better than recent matches, with Rob P, Clemmo and Miles leading the way. A sound victory played at a picturesque ground with friendly and good-humoured opposition, all washed down with free beer at the end. Marvellous.