After last years brilliant run in last year's 3rd XI T20 cup, the 4s are keen to repeat the sucess of 2024, and as always, hopefully bump into the 3s along the way... Tough opposition this year as the 4s are places with us sharing the group with Trafford MV 4s, who convincingly won Div 2, Runcorn 3s, who convincingly won Div 3, and Sale 3s, who won the Prem! Our meager finish of second looking out of place in this battle of the champions. Sale certainly the biggest fish, but Trafford, this week's opponents could be an easy slip up for us for the first game of the season... Not known for its wicket quality nor its fast and flat outfield, the preseason sun had benefited their ground as it looked in good nick! They had strangely refused the offer of a league umpire, but with the usual regulations agreed to, and the toss done and won. Didsbury would have a bat.

0-2 from 3 balls. I'm not sure there have been that many worse starts to a game, let alone a season, but thats where we found ourselves. Kush and Tanmay benefiting from a winter of Cheshire's and Didsbury's finest coaching to both get caught in the ring. James, on debut, probably wondered why he'd been signed up for, but was luckily joined by family, in Aaron C, to settle any nerves or panic. The pair batted brilliantly together, calming things down before steadily accelerating. Bad balls came, and were sent crashing to the boundary. Our reliable teammate in E.X. Tras in good form from last year, kept our total ticking upwards. The 50 partnership was rattled past in good time. An almighty blow from James saw his first six for the fours, and he followed it up soon after with a terrific sweep for four. Aaron's bludgeoning continued at the other end, punishing anything wide or at his legs in unconventional style. Just as Aaron past 50, sadly the partnership would break. James finding midwicket after a smart 33. Aaron was joined briefly by Ringo, who immediately got us into another gear as he scrambled between the wickets. I'm not sure Aaron was quite ready for the accelerated pace of the game, but he found a second wind! With Ringo stumped, it was time for the skipper to have a bat for a change. In a conscious effort to TFC myself less this season, more batting time was on the cards. Aaron exclaimed to me as I reached the middle "You tell me what to do!"... you're the one who's been batting since the fourth ball mate! It should be the other way round. But stealing 1s and pushing 2s was the decision, I can't imagine he was happy to hear that. Luckily I ignored my own advice and begun swinging for the fences. Some lusty blows from the pair of us saw us skyrocket to 161/4 as we put on a 56 run partnership off just 27 balls. An amazing innings from Aaron as he finished 80* off just 55 seeing us through from tragedy at the start to triumph at the end.

A new look attack with ball in hand, with two debutants coming in to join last season's regulars of Aarron G and Usman. Aarron and Isaac, who had made senior cricket look very easy last year in the 5s, would open the bowling. With a short boundary on one side, the boys would have to bowl with real skill to avoid being clobbered over it. They were up to the task, of course. Isaac picking up a wicket with just the second ball of the game. Aarron would also dismiss their dangerous looking number 3, with both of the lads' wickets being bowled as they peppered the stumps. The pair would end their powerplay opening spell of five overs with 5-0-15-2 between them to kill any momentum Trafford would have liked to start their innings with. There was another cost of the powerplay though, namely the skipper's thumb! In what I can only describe as a dropped catch really, I got into a bit of a bad position and ended up trying to catch the ball with the end of my thumb. The results were predictable. Two fractures. Out for a few weeks. Luckily I'm under the generous care of Kunal, our club sponsor of Manchester Hand Surgeons to the rescue! Foolishly, I thought it was fine and continued to field for 17 more overs.... Time for some twins of spin, in Usman and debutant Zak. Usman, his usually miserly self as he blocked an end up and rattled through his four overs with little drama. Zak, given the difficult task of defending the short boundary, he bowled with great skill to keep it out of reach. A very impressive debut, which unluckily went unrewarded. Kush, who I'm sure was keen to forget his brief foray with the bat, bowled brilliantly as well. Particularly at the death where he unveiled variation after variation, and was rewarded with a wicket. Calm heads and some good fielding on a tough, bobbly, outfield saw Didsbury home comfortably after a brilliant return from the two openers. Trafford MV 40 short of their target.

Some great debuts and overall a solid performance from the 4s in their first match of the year. A costly enterprise in losing the skipper for a few weeks, but means if we are successful against Runcorn on Sunday, it sets us up for a winner-takes-all bout vs Sale to see who would progress. A tough ask, but we beat three Premier division sides last year, and with the skills shown this week, the 4s have every chance!