Put in to field in the scorching heat blazing over the Alan Taylor field; St Cross Sunday XI under Captain Adeel Raja didn’t have it easy from ball one. With a quick early wicket thanks to the variation of Theo Foley pressure was flipped right back on to the batting side. This pressure was handled very nicely with some crafty partnerships in the middle order. Abdul was able to squeeze the batsmen with 6-0-15-3 with a disciplined economy of 2.50. Qaim managed a menacing total of 285/8 at the end of their 40 overs.

Sent to see off the new ball and set the tone were Sam Gearing and Hasnain Abbasi. After Hasnain fell early it was up to Sam and Hari Arunan to consolidate and build and innings. Sam reached a well deserved 53 after surviving a dramatic run out chance by the skin of his teeth and eventually got bowled to a toe crunching yorker. Hari was next to stand up and reach 50 with 10 fours, before losing out to yet another yorker. There was a very shaky period where wickets kept tumbling until Matthew Fletcher stepped up and got skittled first ball. But wait, they mistakenly let him bat twice before he smashed a cracking 43 off 24. Sadly that was the Sunday XI’s last shot and they fell short by 33 runs.

Well played to everyone and great determination to endure through the 30 degree heat. We go again soon. Player of the match, Hari Arunan