It was the ‘H’ show on Saturday as Hari, Hafi, Henson and Hodges starred in a convincing victory over Wirral 2’s, extending the 3B’s winning streak to seven in a row.

This weird wet stuff fell from the sky on Friday. Briefly, and then it was over, and we shrugged and strolled out to bowl on another baked ground in glorious sunshine. Once a massive dog poo had been removed from the outfield that is – thanks dog owners! I know most of you are responsible. When you’re being watched, obviously. A captain’s duties are many, varied, and not always pleasant.

What is pleasant however is the luxury of a gun bowling line up. Littler, Bonner, Cotton, Krishnan, Islam. Reads like a boy band the X-Factor have manufactured to reach all demographics. The Hipster One (beard spice), The Royal Lookalike One (HRH spice), The Teenage Girl Bait One (Mark Owen spice), The Intelligent One (glasses spice), The Enigmatic One (variations spice). The opening melodies hit a bit of a bum note though – Wirral raced to 60 from their first 10 overs, the experienced Rolin Johnson and Pete Clews taking advantage of some bad balls and a fast outfield. But then the 3B’s applied the brakes. You’ve had your fun, we said, and the rate dropped from 6 an over to less than 3. Bonner found his line, trapping Johnson LBW and following up few balls later doing exactly the same to number 3 Crabbe.

Alex Cotton bowled an uncharacteristically scatter gun spell, but picked up the crucial wicket of Pete Clews, edging off for Ian Thistlewood to take another sharp slip catch. And then cometh the spinners. Hari Krishnan, in his debut for the 3B’s, showed no signs of being undercooked as he found a perfect line and length immediately. At the other end Hafi Islam was turning it the other way, and the batsmen were being slowly tortured. Wickets began to tumble. Hari took 4-38, including a brilliant return catch, from his nine overs. Dan Pond fielded brilliantly, taking a swirling catch and nailing a run out, and Hafi snuck in with 3 for next to nothing. Wirral were all out before the 40th over for just 152.

It’s enough to necessitate a serious-minded chase, but not enough to cause concern. Ian Thistlewood fell early, LBW, for 13. Matt Hodges played straight, kept hitting the fielders, but crucially stayed patient. If there is one lesson Matt can teach our youngsters it’s this: stay in, runs will come. And come they did. After a string of top scores in the 3A’s Dave Henson got his promotion to the 3B’s and showed his continued form by smashing his first ball for four, dealing characteristically well with anything of a good length. After that it was a procession. Henson and Hodges tag-teaming boundaries, the scoreboard rattled along, and the 3B’s crossed the line in the 26th over. Heaven knows what we would have scored batting first. Hodges finished on 62* (70 balls, 11x4, 1x6), Henson 60* (60 balls, 9x4, 1x6).

Hodges and Thistlewood now stand in the 1-2 positions in the league batting table, and Hodges passed 500 runs for the season at the weekend: 532 from 9 innings at an average of 106 to be exact. Not too shabby.

Another 20 points for the 3B’s to keep up the pressure on the top of the table.

MotM: Hari Krishnan who excelled on debut with his accuracy, turn and superb catching.
DotD: Whoever owns that dog