Two fixtures in, and the 3rds have made a promising start to their defence of the title, beating last season's runners up Alderley Edge in the opening round, and then being disappointed with a draw at Cheadle yesterday after being in a situation almost as sticky as one of Lizzie Dowse's glorious home baked creations.

The most sublime lemon drizzle cake at Kingsway followed on from the delicious bakewell slices during the T20s, and made two excellent performances all the more satisfying, especially for yours truly, fully resourced with the means to make a piping hot cup of coffee at any adjunct.

Mind you, this has been a welcome reward for the technical issues encountered with both scoreboards used so far, especially with the handset supplied by Jeremy Beadle yesterday! Trying times, but then, staying calm and working through the issues is always the best way in the scorebox - as the boys have proved on the pitch, albeit a new look team without Lewis T, Neil Conchie, a dutiful Dawsonian, and no Yaz.

However, no question of any plastic population making up the numbers, as seeing off a challenging 192 set by Alderley in the opening match (with almost 10 overs unused) showed. Two Eddies - 'Steady' Eddie Campbell and 'Eddie' Shah (for those that can recall the Today newspaper) - have given us some opening stability, and although we are unlikely to see much more of Andy Day after his accomplished debut 56, James Micklethwaite stepped in yesterday and I am sure will make some scores. Chris E has fitted in seamlessly (and quite pacily) and Manu was bowling really well (until he got himself crocked playing football).

Add into this the veteran corps, and those that switch in and out of the team, and it all gives the 3rds every chance of challenging again, although early signs are that it could be a pretty open contest for the title in 2017.

It looked as though all the good work against Alderley was coming to a grinding halt yesterday - the boys struggled on a tricky pitch and big boundaries against a wily Cheadle attack, and at 107-8 after 30.5 overs, the prospect of batting out looked remote indeed. Time for some more lemon drizzle - although I only managed one bite as what unfolded distracted even me! David strode forth to join a competent looking Zain, and determined to keep out his nemesis Simon Orton, saw the score tick past 120, then 130...before Zain hit a lovely straight six, Bradman, sorry, Boorman, hooked Orton to the distant long leg boundary, and the pair added 51 before DB sliced to slip. Still not done, in sauntered Sami, clearly in gladiatorial mood, walloping his first ball for four and his third for six.

Zain continued to stroke the ball around, Sami swung with gusto at every one he received, finding the boundary twice more before finally perishing in the last over. Sadly, the scoreboard malfunction had meant Zain was unaware he was on 49 when he strolled a leisurely single the ball before the last wicket...but the 46 he and Sami added from just 22 balls was wonderfully entertaining and greatly heartening.

More drizzle after tea, sadly this time of the precipitant variety, although no overs were lost....and after Zain's fabulous direct hit from point to run out Usman Yahya left Cheadle 5-2, things looked positively sunlit for the 3s. The hosts opted to dig in, which they did and ultimately did successfully, and credit where it's due to Phil Bullen and young Moin Shah, who got a nasty whack on his hand trying to catch a howitzer from Sami earlier - batting 'out' has its detractors but I am not and never will be one of them, they worked hard. The boys tried everything, a couple of sharp chances went begging unfortunately and in the end they had to settle for a draw, but having been where they were - and had Cheadle held their catches it could have been even worse - it was a super performance.

And, to top off a fine day, when I got back to the dressing room there was still some cake left.....