Another victory - and career best bowling figures

Well, yesterday was a big day for North West Water. The weather held off as we played Shropshire Health Authority at Acton Reynald and thank goodness it did as we celebrated one of the most emphatic victories I can remember.

What started out as two 20-over matches (in that case, we won both), morphed into a 40-over, two innings contest and we came out on top, bowling out SHA for just 31 in the their second innings as they chased 98 to win.

It was a particularly good day for me - Harry, my seven month old son, was there to watch - and, inspired by his support, I finished with figures of four for four off four overs. On a not-so-positive-note, my only innings came to an abrupt end on, guess what, four, when I was run out.

Anyway, we batted first with Carl Dulson and Brian Cole starting positively, before Gareth Cole took up where his son left of to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Carl unleashed a couple of meaty blows including one towering six before having to retire on 25, while Rory Jones produced another fine knock on the way to challenging total of 98.

I opened the bowling and started with a wide. Next ball, though, I pegged back the openers off stump before removing SHA's number three first ball thanks to a scrambling catch from skipper Justin Evans square on the offside. After a dot ball, Justin held on to another, slightly more comfortable, catch in the same position. I could hardly believe it.

My next over went for one run but, despite beating the bat a couple of times, I didn't pick up any more wickets. Needless to say, I was pretty pleased with proceedings though.

SHA fought their way back into the game but we chipped away at them, picking up regular wickets, with both Brian and Huw Jones causing plenty of problems. Our fielding, and catching in particular, was sharp all afternoon - even I managed to cling on to one.

SHA ended six runs short of our total on first innings and, after the tea break, we batted again, with Justin reversing the batting order. This meant wicketkeeper Dan Powell and I opened. Dan looked in fine touch from the start and, after I'd departed for four, he moved serenely to 25 before retiring. Jamal Penrose then proceeded to make an excellent 25, with Huw Jones providing excellent support, as our lower order proved themselves to be no mugs with the bat.

Some late hitting from Rory lifted us to 91 in our second innings, setting SHA a target of 98 to win.

We started well with the ball, and I picked up another wicket with my first delivery - again caught by Justin, this time fielding at square leg to a left hander. Despite a couple of marginal lbw shouts, I didn't pick up my fifth wicket, though.

Ian Lloyd, opening at the other end, took two quick wickets as SHA started to falter immediately. To their credit, they too had reversed the batting order but, despite our fears that they would suddenly start building a partnership, we carried on taking wickets.

Jamal produced a fine spell to pick up two scalps - one caught quite brilliantly on the leg side by a diving Brian in what must be one of the summer's champagne moments. Rory then produced some seriously rapid deliveries on his way to two wickets, before Brian stepped up to finish the job with three wickets, including one that took the edge, was parried up in the air by Dan, only to caught by an alert Carl at slip.

When Carl rearranged the stumps of the final SHA batsman, we'd managed to bowl them out for just 31 with ten overs remaining.

Incidentally, there was the small matter of the Ashes being decided at The Oval while we were playing. Jamal had brought his radio along and we all cheered when the final Aussie wicket fell. Perhaps that's what inspired us to wrap the game up so quickly.