"You've won it once, now win it again"

Almost a year after beating West Herts to win the U14 prize, we faced Harpenden for the right to enter the ECB U15 20 over National Knock Out Trophy. Our visitors came to Cricketfield Lane with a strong side and on a very warm evening it was no surprise when they elected to bat after winning the toss.

Adam Crowther and Jake Morris continued their recent excellent form with the ball and after one narrow escape, Jacob Winfield chipped a catch to Adam to give Jake a wicket. From that moment on we exerted a stranglehold on the batsmen, with all five of our bowlers turning in excellent performances.

Alex Portas cleaned up Callender, before Matt Pike rearranged Patrick Frost's stumps. With two left handers at the crease, skipper Alec Chappell threw the ball to Coby Miles, who delivered his best spell of the season and bowled Alfie Button with a jaffa.

Some sensational fielding from Joe Hawkins, who leapt to his right to take a blinding catch, gave Jake Morris a second wicket, and Ben Warman also took a smart catch to give Jake his third.

Meanwhile we cleverly starved Harpenden's George Garrett of the strike, and he eventually holed out to Matt Pike on the midwicket boundary to reward Alex Portas for some fiery bowling. Pike and Crowther took another wicket apiece before Kerley was run out from the final ball of the innings. We had bowled and fielded superbly to a man, with Will Price's strong arm from the deep saving run after run while Adam Bassingthwaighte was immaculate behind the stumps.

83 is obviously not a great total, but Harpenden's bowling is their strength and the boys knew they were in for a battle. That became very clear when Alfie Button and Jacob Winfield produced testing opening spells. Joe Burslem departed for 4, and when Alex Portas chipped to mid off for 0 and Matt Pike was yorked by Wiles, we were 15-3 and in some trouble. Thankfully the unflappable Adam Bass was joined by Alec, and the pair began to rebuild the innings. At the 10 over drinks break we were 32-3 but immediately after drinks Chappell began to take the fight to the opposition and began coming down the pitch and running aggressively.

In no time the game had changed, and with such a small total to defend Harpenden felt the game getting away from them. Adam was run out in controversial circumstances towards the end - much like Arsene Wenger, I didn't see the incident - but that only brought Jake Morris to the crease and he ended the game with a flurry of boundaries.

Our six wicket victory was a testament to our spirit and skill, and is dedicated to Elliot Needham who unfortunately suffered a dislocated knee in the B team game on the bottom ground.