I have to keep reminding myself it’s still only April, so good was the weather over the weekend, and the mens teams all made the most of it. Sadly our women suffered a couple of reverses, the 3s knocked out of their Development KO Trophy after a six wkt loss at Poynton. It was actually a much tighter game than that margin suggests, NE Cheshire sneaking home with only two balls to spare, and after they had an opening stand of 66 in pursuit of 96, that shows how well the fledging 3s did to take the game that deep. Lily-Rose Harvey certainly had a memorable Dids debut, double figures when batting and then bowling the NEC captain first ball.

The 3s actually have their first league game this evening (Tues) at Stockport Trinity’s ground, taking on Langley 2s.

The 1s were without Rosh for their opening match in the 40 overs a side Thunder Cup, which was a blow in itself, but when you’re facing up to powerhouses Lindow it’s even more keenly felt. Dids started poorly having chosen to bat, slipping to 48-4, but what a debut for Isabel Ellsmore, who smacked a lovely 71 off just 51 bs batting at 6, enabling Dids to eventually post 170. Heidi Cheadle was a class apart for the opposition, however, and Lindow made fairly light work of the chase, her 78* off 72 bs one reason why, as was Dids bowling 43 wides - eek. The 1s have two more games to play in their group, and will need an uplift for sure – and someone to beat Lindow. There is an Old Trafford final in the offing in this tournament so plenty of incentive.

As it is, the 1s face Lindow twice more in the next two games! On Sunday they meet in T20 format, with the held-over 2025 KO Cup Final being played at Grappenhall, with a scheduled start time of 3.00pm (there is another T20 final being played before this one so hopefully all timings will run as advertised). Do get over and lend your support if possible. Then on Sunday 10th the two sides meet again, this time in league format, at Woodford.

The womens 2s get their Div 2 league campaign underway on BH Monday, again at Woodford. Have a guess who they’re playing!

Thankfully the mens cricket brought plenty to cheer. Sunday’s T20 action saw both the 3s and 4s win to take a grip on their respective groups. JB’s men had a bit of an arm-wrestle up at Bramhall, the free-wheeling batting of a week previous a distant memory as they ground their way to 118-6, just six boundaries in the innings with Mash again leading the way, this time 38 off 40. It didn’t sound a lot but the quality of the 3s attack meant that Bramhall had their work cut out to get close, and in the event they finished miles back on 84-8. The 3s simply gave them nothing to hit, and the measly four boundaries Bramhall did manage is testament to what a great job was done.

The 3s have one more group game to play, away at Macclesfield on BH Monday, who have lost both their games. Even if the unthinkable were to happen, the 3s NRR is so far ahead of the others, progression to the knockout stages is all but guaranteed. And of course JBs men will be going for the win in any case. They have the small matter of a league title to defend as well, and that starts the day before, with Ashley at Dids on Sunday.

It was a similar tale at Romiley for Jack’s 4s – a tricky pitch/outfield, a low scoring encounter, but in the end Dids defending 125 with some comfort. Ibrahim whacked 45 and put on 64 with Zohaib, which gave the side a good platform up front. Romiley opened up with two players who’ve had a few games for their 1s last season, but even so the 4s had way too much know-how, Usman and Jack returning 8-1-27-4 between them. As Jack pointed out to me, the 4s have now won 10 games in a row stretching back to June 29 last year, a fantastic record! They top their group and face Metrovicks on BH Monday to hopefully also seal their passage through to the KO stages, and as the fixtures would have it, the two sides are in action in league format the day before!

ps the game at Romiley was marred by a nasty injury suffered by Rom skipper Adam Jackson, who, Jack informed me, took a firm drive right between the eyes when the ball flew up off an uneven patch of outfield as he attempted to stop it. A trip to A&E ensued but it seems thankfully all is well, and we send out best wishes to Adam for a complete recovery.

The 1s also had a successful cup outing on Sunday – you may have been there or watching the stream, and if you did either or both of those, you will have witnessed an absolute treat as Rob Sehmi smashed his second score in excess of 150 for the club, and along with Charlie’s serene class again on display, a massive unbroken stand of 236 was compiled as the 1s eased over the first hurdle in the National KO.

I never quite know what to expect in these games. Opponents Stourbridge are in Div 2 of the Birmingham Prem (if I have understood it correctly) but I have no idea how good that standard actually is. Safe to say it is some way ahead of our Div 2 here in Cheshire, and Stourbridge showed with the bat that they have some quality, especially keeper Marvarick Perry, who belted 104 off just 83 bs (having hit 99 the day before) and really enjoyed the super pitch, fast outfield and short boundary. Nick focussed on keeping the boundary count down – on a number of occasions later on there were no fielders in the circle on the leg side – and it was especially pleasing to see Jonty bowling so well. Brought into the attack in the 33rd when Stourbridge were ticking a bit, JW only conceded three boundaries and didn’t bowl any extra balls, and with JC sticking to his task well at the other end, Nick felt his fielding strategy had been justified and that 260 was a lot but some way short of what it could have been.

It was still a task, though, and two wkts in the first five overs had Stourbridge jubilant and the 1s with some work to do. But as we saw, that work was done gloriously, Rob and Charlie building carefully at first before really giving it the beans after drinks, when they scored at 10s for 14 consecutive overs and won the game at a canter, Rob smashing an eighth six into next week to cap a fantastic display. He was not best pleased to have been given out first ball the day before but found the ideal way to vent any lingering frustration – and it was wonderful to watch, shot after shot pinging off two broad bats, singles picked up at will, boundaries hit with increasing frequency. As happens when players of that quality get going, Stourbridge just couldn’t stem the flow. They were no doubt pondering what might have been - when the score was 81 and the partnership just 57, Charlie played his only false shot of the weekend, whacking a regulation catch to mid-off, which was grassed – so in consecutive days the 1s got a leg-up from an opposition fielding mishap.

24 hours earlier James Green had been the beneficiary, although the circumstances were quite different as the 1s were 220-8 needing 236 to beat Neston. James told me afterwards that it was a brain-fade moment – but as the lofted drive was initially grasped but spilled at long on, he got away with it. And in my view, deservedly so, as James played a quite superb innings – his best for Dids, I told him – which took the 1s out of a decidedly squeaky situation. Charlie was again involved in a recovery role as the 1s had slid to 113-5 against dogged opposition and the way the pair didn’t panic, worked the ball around, built some momentum, and picked the right balls to open up to, was the perfect example of how to win from a tight spot. Which is what champion sides do.

Charlie’s first 70 of his two over the w/e ended a brilliant stand of 94, and after the scares of quick wkts. and the drama of the dropped catch, Will’s nerveless approach helped James to steady, and his crunching shot that sailed away into the road to seal the 20 pts was a real tension release, and a great moment. He’d earlier bowled a good 7 overs off the reel and is absolutely the Horse with some game (for those with good music taste, adapt America’s classic tune to get that one).

Neston will be back for revenge in the next round of the National and although the dropped catch understandably got a lot of discussion, I pointed out to their skipper that six players making at least 30 but no-one passing 50, and being bowled out with 9 overs unused – huge credit to the 1s for that - had every bit as much bearing on proceedings. It should be a fascinating encounter on May 10th.

The 1s travel to Chester BH on Saturday looking for a first victory in three trips there.

I should also say that it wasn’t just the 20 pts that had smiles all round on faces at the club, but also news of Sam’s terrific 103* for the 2s on a potentially tricky assignment at Oxton and another win for them. A superb bowling effort to restrict the hosts to 166 was the first part done well – Oxton whacked 239-3 the week before in a big win, so James Bidder’s getting rid of the openers was a much needed early boost, before OG enticed the dangerous Grant Hughes into a mistimed sweep on his way to a super 13-5-23-4. He claimed a run out too, did OG, as the Oxton middle order dropped anchor and the hosts lost their way – testament to an excellent bowling & fielding effort.

Their 166 felt some way short and Sam showed just how short with a sublime selection of shots, 15x4 and 4x6 in a dominant display as he made 103 out of 143 while batting, the 2s over the line in the 28th over and in great heart ahead of the traditionally tough clash with rivals Chester next week.

Final word to Rehmani and his merry men who are in fine fettle after consecutive wins, although in true 2As style it was not without a missed heartbeat or two! Haris was the man of the hour, first of all with 13-3-33-5 as a much-changed Bowdon side totalled 151. Simon Lord opened up with 46 but had to watch a succession of partners come and go as the 2As dug themselves into a hole, and when James Coventry was caught five balls after Harry had been run out, the board showed 99-7, the cue for much uncomfortable shifting and fidgeting.

Haris was already out there and with Rehmani striding out to join him, the pair showed the value of experience as they picked their shots, Haris booming two fours in three balls to end 33* and bag 20 lovely pts. Next for Rehmani’s men is an intriguing trip to Hyde – dramatically relegated from the Prem on the last day of last season after never having been in the bottom two prior to that final game – and with Hyde picking up their first win on Sat, it should be another very watchable game.