The 1s completed a potentially tricky assignment at Brooklands - who had won at Nantwich the week before - with something to spare, and it was for me a pleasingly 'no frills, no fuss' win, if that makes sense. Initially, Nick's decision to field on an unusually compact ground was not backed up consistently as too many wides and scoreable deliveries were bowled, the opening Brooklands pair adding 48 with little trouble, although Todd Walker survived a difficult chance.

However, the Wiz, more back to his reliable bowling self, grabbed a c&b, as four wkts fell in the next 14 balls. Alex responded nervlessly to replacing James G, inducing a nick off with his third ball, and then took two in his next over, Kevin Carroll horribly mistiming a pull and Jim Hugall beaten by a good ball. AY finished with 4-27 to underscore an impressive start to the season and he fully deserves his place. With Steve trapping Walker lbw inbetween all that, Dids had a grip, and despite a decent stand of 50 for the 7th, Brooklands eventual 177 seemed some way light, and indeed was proven to be so.

But it was the way the 1s went about it that I particularly enjoyed. It's all too common, with a lowish score and no pressure on the rate, to go out throwing the bat and suddenly it's 20-3 and game on. Not the slightest hint of that as Tom and Evan batted patiently for over an hour, realising quickly that it wasn't a shot-a-ball day and taking any early sting out of the game. I liked their assurance, especially Evan against such an experienced and tricky attack - he never looked flustered or fidgety and indeed it took a decent throw to get rid of him.

Abhay then joined Tom and the pair batted another 16 overs (Tom, never at his most fluent but utterly resolute, brought up a vital half-century after some two hours at the crease), setting the stage for James and the skip to boom four sixes and bring the game to a rapid conclusion. The only disappointment for me was that we were denied a third 50 partnership of the innings after Nick fell to a fine catch at cover with the stand on 49.....and it was the seventh ball of the over! But no matter, a textbook chase of a low score was executed brilliantly.

I did wonder if some of the 2s might come and join us after another early finish for them, Jonty, the Cat(t) and OG having far too much for a palsied Neston side who, for the second year in a row at Dids, offered next to no resistance at all. Great start for Ryan's side and they look well equipped for the tougher tests to come. The 2As were undone at Mere by Bowdon, and in particular their experienced left-arm seamer Haydn George, who would walk into a number of 1st XIs I can think of. He ended the game with 11 wickets in two league matches this season, and you can read more detail in the super match report elsewhere. No panic for Rehmani of course, his Uber-cool persona and the knowledge of what can happen over a season providing plenty of positivity.

Sunday saw the 3s win with almost indecent haste, a first-ever game against Woodley proving to be a complete mis-match in the T20. Woodley were eager to bat first but only mustered 116. 52 of those came from their muscular opener, Xavi (in the middle of another really encouraging spell) sportingly opting to fluff a great chance to run him out, and their were 15 wides - in other words, the other ten batsmen put in 49 between them. And when Madhu's boundary-fest was curtailed with a decent boundary catch it was 70-1 after 4.5 overs. You get the picture. But all credit to the 3s,a good, focused display and boding well to ensure safe passage to the knock out stages for the eighth successive season at Timperley on BH Monday.

Jack had to watch on as the 4s lost off the last ball at Runcorn in an unusual match. "Kush and Tamnay, keen to not repeat last weekend's 0-2, got us off to a strong start. Tanmay continuing through to get a well measured run-a-ball 50. Krishav in just his second 4s game played practically every shot in the book for an exciting 51* off 42. 133-4 seemed a lot, and it almost was! A twinge in the back meant Aarron was out of the attack, but the young lad had a bigger role as he took the reigns in my absence on the field. A tense battle between bat and ball continued from ball one to the last over. It was some highly skilled bowling and keeping with us only conceding one wide (and one no ball) in the entire innings despite strict offside and legside wides, and only one bye. Despite all this, Runcorn looked comfortable, none down for the majority of tbe innings, as they trotted along at just under the required rate. A couple of late wickets saw us in with chance, which included a fantastic direct hit run out from Aarron, but with 5 needed of the last, Runcorn scrambled two off the last ball to win. Fantastic performance really, we did very little wrong, and showed a lot of fight and pride."

And it's far from over for the 4s, every side in their group having won one, lost one. The 4s travel to Sale on BH Monday knowing that a win will see them qualify, so all support and encouragement for them would be greatly appreciated.

The 5s, Wanderers and Knights are all awaiting competitive action but there was another useful friendly for a selection of players from all those sides at Flixton. The 5s (Sunday Div 2) get started next week at Urmston, while the Knights (Div 4) take on Urmston 5s at Hale Barns CC. The Wanderers (Div 3 East) play Ashley at Flixton CC.

Finally a note of congratulation and commiseration for Zoe R who was left heartbroken 54* at Oakmere as her magnificent effort to guide a below-strength 1st XI to their target of 145 only just failed, a run-out of Yukhshee with two balls remaining meaning the 1s lost out by just 3 runs. Having been 10-4 and all over the show, it was a brilliant fightback, and the girls will take encouragement from many aspects of the game I am sure.