That's more like it

Being on the Herts/ Essex border means lots of trips across the county, but in seven years running the team this was the worst away journey we have endured. While half our side were sitting in a queue on the A1(M), Craig 'Senna' Bassingthwaighte managed to weave his way through the chaos and ensure that most of our top order were ready to pad up and play by 6.20.

By the time the rest of us arrived, one and three quarter hours after leaving Stortford, Craig's number one son Adam had got us off to a flyer, and when Matt Pike fell for 10 we were already on 30 after 5 overs. Alex Portas, finding a tempting short legside boundary well within his reach, came and went for 14, but Basso carried on, despite a leg injury, and retired for a fine 50. Elliot Needham, Alec Chappell and Joe Hawkins added 47 from the last five overs and our total of 136 looked more than enough on a two-paced wicket.

Sam Gardner delivered a pacy, accurate first over and when Alex Portas's occasional off spin claimed Lanyon, thanks to Joe Stanborough's excellent catch, the hosts' reply was already in trouble. Gardner, Portas and Pike all bowled well, and when Ben Warman claimed his first wicket of the season in his first over, Hitchin were 19 for 2 in the sixth over with two of their best players out. From then on it was all about Jared Bassingthwaighte, who bowled four overs of accurate off spin and saw Hitchin's best batsman, Gurney well caught by Joel Ellis at short third man.

We batted, bowled and fielded very well on a night when we were missing a number of regular A team players, and put the memories of our sloppy first game of the season behind us. Not only that, but Craig avoided being caught by the police and the boys promised not to tell Mary about his driving.