A big crowd at Watery Lane eagerly awaited the penultimate match of the Arden Sunday League season knowing that a win for Earls would make them Champions with a game still left to play. Unfortunately the weather delayed celebrations and looked for a while as though it may force the division decider into the next week. After a while though the pitch dried out enough to get the roller and mower on it and the match (reduced to 30 overs per side) got underway.

The Blossomfield Captain won the toss and chose to bat on the still damp track which pleased Earls' skipper Martyn Dennison who was eager to have a bowl. The decision soon proved a strange one as Jona Watts, opening up with Harry Brooks quickly got amongst the wickets clean bowling Jhass for a 2-ball duck (5-1). Jona's pace and aggression has been a more than useful addition this year and he had new batsman Ed Thompson hopping around the crease also.

Unfortunately Jona's side injury flared up again and he struggled with his line in the next over. He was replaced by James Thorne and Callum Hassett came on to replace Harry. Patel tried to take the attack to the bowlers as the run rate slowed but just couldn't beat the field and had to be content with singles. Callum struck twice in his first over. Thompson was first to go; he mullered the ball at Sardara Narotra at short cover who simply plucked it out of the air one handed for a fantastic instinctive catch (28-2). Callum then cleaned up Harvey Satterthwaite for another 2-ball duck (28-3).

Walker then joined Patel and encouraged loudly by the travelling Bloss contingent managed to get up to 53 before Callum struck again with a sharp catch from Ben Jackson; 53-4 at drinks off 15 overs. Ben and Chief replaced James and Callum as Bloss again tried to consolidate with Kurup joining Patel. Eventually Dan Dixon replaced Chief from the road end and immediately struck first pinning Kurup LBW and then another amazing catch from Chief who made good ground across from cover to dive full length and catch Kinman one-handed for a duck (88-6).

Jona came back on but Seifas had decided that attack was the best form of defence and picked the slower ball for 6. Ben returned from the Vicarage Road end and soon finished off any hopes of a recovery getting three wickets in quick succession. Seifas went for one shot too many and picked out Harry on the deep mid-wicket boundary (103-7). At the end of the same over Evans lobbed one up to Callum at gully (104-8). In Ben's next over Kinman again chipped one up in the air and Jona made a good diving catch running in from point (107-9).

Ben bowled the last over but it proved an interesting one to say the least. A single got the number 11 Handu on strike but first a wide ball evaded Guy's dive and skipped over the rope and that was followed by a no-ball that went over Guy's head for another boundary. 10 runs in two balls! The last ball saw Handu try to get up the other end in rather comical fashion and was caught well out of his ground by a sharp throw from Denno into Ben (122-10).

Chief and Harry opened up for Earls and were both quickly up to speed with boundaries as the score ticked along nicely. The first wicket fell at 31 when Chief was bowled by a yorker from Kinman. It was the 7th legal ball of the over as Callum, acting as umpire, perhaps decided to make up for the 5 ball over he'd officiated in the previous over from that end?

Will Windeatt joined Harry but he fell cheaply bowled by Kinman and then Jona not long after but not before pummeling the bowler through extra cover for 4 (53-3). The skipper was in next and played sensibly knowing we just had to stay at the crease and we'd get home. However, Satterthwaite had other ideas and took two wickets in his last over first cleaning up Denno and then trapping Ben LBW 2nd ball (65-5) leaving Earls having a little wobble. Those in the know were still comfortable as every player in the side has a senior league 50 this term so we had huge strength in depth.

Chris Harrison joined Harry in the middle and they began to set about the bowling particularly Kurup who replaced Kinman (3-43) at the end of his spell taking 10 off his wayward first over and settling a few nerves. Thompson came on for Satterthwaite and looked good so we were pleasantly surprised when he was replaced. Chris had reached 14 when Kurup eventually found his line and bowled him with an excellent ball (92-6).

Guy Massey was up next and together with Harry got us nearly home before one last jitter as Harry was caught off Jhass for a well-made 40 (117-7). Callum replaced him and was clearly desperate for a cloud pleaser to finish, eventually getting himself on strike to clear the long-on boundary for 6 and victory for Earls.

There's one more match in what has been a very good season for the side marshalled superbly by Denno. Many of the juniors have been given opportunities to play what at most of the time has been a good standard of cricket with the majority of teams having strong players. Over 40 players have represented the team at some stage this season. With promotion to the Premier Division next season now assured the celebrations began!

Well done all and especially skipper Martyn.