W-W-W

A very hot day, and the Niffy on the back of two wins were feeling confident.
Winning the toss and electing to field, early wickets were the order of the day. And early wickets duly came.
Picture the scene. The younger Hawker brother bowling. RH batsman who had been beaten for 3 balls with a combination of poor shots and good balls. A slip cordon of Rich at 1st, and Nick at 3rd (we dont need 2nd with those two athletes in the slips). Token keeper there as well. In charges Hawker, full length away swinger. the batsman throws his bat at it getting a thick outside edge that is going straight through the vacant 2nd slip area. Rich turns to go and fetch the ball, but no..... Nick, reacting like something that reacts fast, throws his left hand at the ball and drops it....but always aware and ready to react Rich gets his right hand to it, juggles, before taking a simple catch. Thanks for the points Nick, put your fine in the pot :-)
the 2nd wicket came quickly, a simple catch for Tom off Joe, and then came a period of rebuilding for DB. The introduction of Hayden brought the next wicket, tempting the batsman into a drive to a ball that ducked in late, bowling him. Niffy on top!
then came the fightback, with Daks batting well, and eventually bringing up a 100 in the last over.Batting with Fisher, it looked like a tough total was being built. It was the turn of the spinners then to get some wickets. Firstly, Liam, who deserved more than his one wicket had Fisher caught at long-on with a good running catch from Rich. The welcome return of James Hunt to the 2's also saw him chip in with a couple of wickets. A stumping for Tom, and another good catch from big bruv Hawker, running in from wide long on. 224-6 off 45.
An ample Willan tea, and then it was down to batting. a tough target, but on our track, never impossible.
Tom and Hayden set about trying to finish the game in 10 overs, with plenty of big shots. But both perished quickly. Hayden trying to smash a slower ball, but missing it and getting bowled, and Tom, 2 balls after smashing a big 6, trying the same and getting caught at mid-off. It was then down to Rich and James to start building and they did. Rich being more cautious in his approach, waiting for the bad ball, and James with plenty of free-flowing cricket shots. their 46 run partnership was broken when James trying another straight drive was dropped by the keeper, but the ball fell nicely into the hands of first slip, bringing Mr chairman, "fine leg" Pops to the crease.
Another good partnership of 36 followed, with Rich turning aggressor, with the stand broken when Pops toe ended a pull straight to mid-wicket off their spinner.
Waggy, nursing a broken? thumb was next out, and after a couple of loose shots, found his timing and creamed a couple of lovely looking cover drives. the partnership was building, and then signs were that these two were going to see the team home. DB, also sensing this brought on a joke bowler to try and buy a wicket. and it worked. First ball was a wide long hop. Waggy tried to smash it, but it came off the toe, presenting a simple catch to the guy at point. A drinks break, a single, and then Rich hammered another long hop to the boundary to bring up his 50. the next ball pitched in the same place, so Rich went back to smash this one as well, but got bowled when the ball decided that bouncing was so 5 minutes ago!
Another Niffy collapse? not with the new confident Niffy. Firstly Joe and NIck started putting the runs on the board. Nick playing in his usual style was scoring runs quickly, and even managed to take out a fielder, who didnt pick up a big hit and got the ball straight in the face on the boundary. it looked a mess, and we all hope he is ok. after another useful partnership, Joe was the next out, playing on trying to drive. Bringing Boggle to the crease! No-one was nervous though. and why should we be.
Nick chipped a six over the net and into the gardens. Good job he didnt try to hit it! and then Boggle took over?! A series of ones and twos soon whittled the runs needed down to 12 off 3, and then 10 off 2. Boggle had seen enough. Stepping back, he smashed the ball through extra cover on the ground for four, leaving long-off motionless. and then with 6 needed to win, smashed the next ball into the netting at long-on to send the Niffy 2's into wild celebrations.
and with all 3 teams winning for the 3rd time this year, the party carried on late into the night!