The 2s made the trip to Wilnecote knowing a win was essential to keep them in the promotion race. We lost the toss and got put in which helped as it meant a full 24 point win was still achievable for us under this league's rules.

Stuart Reeve opened up with Ateeb Shah. Stuart quickly showed the ups and downs of cricket as he snuck one to slip off the first ball after last weekend scoring over 200 runs ... the joy of being a batsman! The wicket was a little green and there was some variable bounce early on that made it tricky for the batsmen. Josh Craven joined Tibby and was soon into his stride though severely punishing anything short to both sides of the wicket. He was motoring along and the partnership had reached 62 when he did well to keep out a good yorker only for the ball to trickle against the off stump and remove one bail. Josh had made 42 (65-2 off 14).

Lewis Harrison replaced Josh. Crampin and Lane were both bowling well now on a track that the home side knew how to bowl and subsequently bat on. There's a sharp slope at the Wilnecote ground making it tricky to judge at times and they bowled well to it. Lewis was dismissed by wily Crampin's dibblies in a very good spell of 1-30 off his 12. Tibby fell in the next over to Lane as we wobbled a little at 83-4 off 20. The run rate was ok but we needed to keep wickets in hand.

David Smith was joined by the skipper Chris Harrison looking to consolidate. Crampin finished his spell and was replaced by Corcoran, another who knew just how to bowl up the slope and just put it on the spot. Chris released the shackles a little with two strongly hit fours but both bowlers were beating the bat regularly. Lane eventually bowled Bungle in his last over after the pair had put on 41 (124-5 off 34). Colby Snipe joined Chris but he popped one up to cover off the new bowler Bell (129-6 off 36).

Elliot Weir came in next and did what he's done all season, pushing the fielders into mistakes as the pair ran quickly between the wickets as we began to push on. Both were still struggling to get Corcoran away though and Elliot was eventually bowled trying to push on (147-7 off 43). Chris started playing more attacking shots in the final overs and he and Dave Evison put on 26 to get us up close to an extra batting point if required. Dave chipped up an outside edge and was caught and Chris fell shortly after caught at mid-on for 46 (179-9 off 49). This left Neil Thorne and Ian Hughes to prevent any extra overs being given to the hosts which they did although Ian was out caught at mid-on with four balls to go (181 all out).

Evo and Thorney opened the bowling for Earls. Most of the Wilnecote batsmen proved strong square of the wicket with cuts and pulls. Left-hander McKenna in particular punished anything short off the back foot. Evo kept plugging away though and was rewarded with the wicket of Corcoran clean bowled in the 5th over with the score on 11. Off the mark!

Greenwood joined McKenna and it was more of the same with some big hits from both players. Evo got us back in it though again clean bowling Greenwood (45-2 off 11). Lewis replaced Thorney and the change of pace initially worried the batsmen but they soon reverted back to type with dabs through point and gully and one that whistled over the slips' heads for four. Josh replaced Evo after a very good spell but it was Lewis who got our next wicket rushing danger-man Husselbee who gloved it behind to Bung (65-3 off 16).

McKenna was batting well and with new man Bell they started pushing on and the runs required came under 100. Lewis was bowling sharp down the hill but anything that pierced the field was going for four. Joshy eventually persuaded McKenna to make an error and he picked out Reevo at mid-on who came in to take a good catch (94-4 off 21). Leading wicket taker Hughesy replaced Lewis as Wilnecote continued to tick off the runs. They had reached 117-4 though when a spectacular collapse saw us take the next six wickets for just 10 runs in the next four overs. Colby replaced Josh started the avalanche in his second over clean bowling Bell for 34 (117-5 off 27). The next over saw Ian bowl Donnison for a duck and in Colby's next over two wickets fell as Chris took a good catch low down at slip and Elliot ran round to take a catch at mid-on (126-8 off 29).

In the next over Wakeman hit it out to deep square from where Elliot came swooping in. The batsman decided to take on the arm ... big mistake! The ball whistled in to Bung who took the bails off with the batsman well over a foot short of his ground. This brought in Yorke who faced one ball from Ian and swung all around it to get bowled and end the Wilnecote innings on 127.

Victory by 54 runs and another 24 points. Thimblemill drew with Continental Star so are now 5 points ahead with one game left between us next week. All in our hands!