We won the toss and decided to have a bat on a dry looking wicket. No Joel or Shirls this week meant a bit of rearranging in batting order. Liam (18) and Crackers (21) opened up, both hitting a couple nice boundaries and making it to 50 without loss. Crackers skied one and Liam was out LBW to their wiley skipper and two new men were to the crease. Rob (9) unfortunately involved in a schoolboy run out and we were looking less promising on 70-3. Nicoll (26) and Flowers put on another 50 before Nicoll was out caught and bowled. Ev continued on, scoring a very valuable 51 before being caught long on. Murray (1) came and went playing square on a turning wicket, at this point 120-5. Nurse came to the crease and played a match winning innings, scoring 50* seeing us up to a respectable 213. On a turning wicket we were favourites going into the second dig. Birdy and O'Driscoll opened up and continued our fantastic new ball form, giving very few runs which inevitably lead to wickets. Birdy (25/1 off 10) bowled 8 overs straight at the start and Liam (23/3 off 10) all 10. After 20 overs they were 45-4. Great work from the lads in Joel's absence, backed up by brilliant catching and energy in the field mainly from Hill behind the stumps. One absolutely stunning catch by buffalo beast bob Fahrenheim at gully. W Nicoll and Murray also took two very good runs outs and before long Stanmore were out of the game at 61-8. The tail wagged a bit but eventually all out for 131, Nurse (40/2 off 8), T Nicoll (26/1 off 8) and W Nicoll (2/1 off 0.4) chipped in. 7 wins in a row, incredible scenes. 3 games left, 6 points off top, race for the title is on.

North Midd 2nd XI vs Enfield (Away)
North Midd 331/7 off 45
Enfield 272/9 off 45
North Midd won by 60 runs

The 2s arrived at Enfield right in the thick of the title race. After a democratic vote, it was decided that batting first was the way forward. Mills came up with the goods - and what an important toss it was to win. With a flat deck and fast outfield, a run fest proceeded – attributed directly no doubt to some great pre-game ankle stretching. If a chance at the title wasn’t incentive enough, Carroll offered up the inaugural MOTM. Enter - Sammy Shep. Shep and Chambers opened up and settled in nicely - quickly moving the total to 84 for no loss. After giving the team a rocket start, Chambo finally fell for a well put together 37. M. Cracknell came to the crease at no 4 and showed why he’s the form player in the league. Some quality running between the wickets (Shep loves a 3) led to a massive partnership. Shep finished with an awesome 128, while Crackers proved the perfect acquaintance with 66. Jimmy Oldham cannot go unmentioned, hitting 3 bombs off the last over to top off a great batting performance – 331 for 7. A strong, even contribution from all bowlers was a highlight of the afternoon. Oldham, Carroll, CYS, Chambers and Henners all putting in long spells on a warm afternoon. Enfield fought on gamely, the opener producing a great 116 to keep them in the game. However 331 proved out of reach, Enfield finally finishing with 272. A convincing win and a number of great contributions across the team. After other matches fell our way, we now sit top of the league. Keeping the lid on at this stage, but a massive couple of games coming up. Destiny well and truly in our own hands. Onwards an upwards - Go the Midd!

North Midd 3rd XI vs North London (Away)
North Midd 228-9 from 45 overs
North London 171-10 from 38.4 overs
North Midd win by 57 runs

In the words of eminent songstress Jason Mraz, “You’re not obligated to win. You’re obligated to keep trying to do the best you can do everyday.” And thus, refusing to give up – as per the chorus, cast in a shadow of sunny exultation, the pedalo of triumph chugged along on this merriest of pathways, anxious to chew upon the latest of delights on this Michelin starred menu of 3rd XI cricket. And alas, wasn’t last week’s casserole of controversy delicious? Indeed, as airport eponym Charles de Gaulle said, “The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.” Sadly, they don’t. And so, the NM3 Victory lifted anchor and set sail once again, in search of calmer and better-tempered waters. Indeed, what a tonic we would uncover in response to last week’s fun and games. The Yvette Derby, Green vs Burgundy, Tom vs Jerry of the Shepherd’s Cot, North Midd vs North Lond. Yet, with availability as low as Justin Gatlin is unlikeable, victory over our friends from the Montenotte Road was far from certain. The Caersws Kohli was unavailable and Barrow pocketed by Mills. The Swindon Sehwag had been wrestled from our grasp – his straight bombs off the 20mph declaration bowler clearly enticing other skippers. And so, the reins would be shared by the finest of trios – former skipper Lake, Parker – bravely staving off a broken toenail, and HRH the Ever-Impeccable Michael Edwards, family law’s finest. “Eighty percent of success is showing up”, once said Woody Allen. And so, with six players present at the 12:30 start time, the middies were confident of completing a league double over the hearty souls of Ferme Park. What a pleasure it always is to grace the fertile fallows of London’s smallest postage stamp. And on this warmest of days, with the square boundaries stemming all of 90cm and the WASP set accordingly at 9,000,000,000, Parker lost the toss and the middies were invited to bat. If one is honest, things didn’t start overly fantastically. Friend played down the Bakerloo Line to lose his off stump before Lake and Edwards Esquire shnicked behind to the impressive North London opening pairing. However, with Cracknell at one end and Joe James at the other, a period of consolidation commenced. With James seeing it less like a football and more like an atom, the onus was rather on his partner to do the scoring. Alas, when Joseph’s riveting vigil came to an end shortly before drinks, the situation was less than ideal. When Masud followed shortly afterwards, going back on the Ferme Park track, the middies were fairly inconveniently placed at 80-5 and captain Parker was sweating like Mohammed Asif during a secret meeting with Ray Winstone outside a Paddy Power. But fear not comrades. William, who had spent the morning looking for some whites and bemoaning his inferior ton count to the rest of the Cracknell stable, began to pump the ball to all parts of this little field. He and Parker put on 30 but when Parker was bowled whilst trying to hit one back into the EU, the middies were languishing at 110-6. What followed was a remarkable partnership as Mishra came to the crease. It is safe to say that Dre has hit them better. Even so, he and Crackers put on 80 as the North London fielders spent their time laughing at Dre's gloves instead of taking wickets. This novel tactic would come back to bite our esteemed hosts on their proverbial backside as Cracknell began to pepper the neighbouring tennis courts with cricket balls. Dre, the great Phil Victor and TJL Oon all fell in quick succession as William continued on his serene dance towards three figures - a staggeringly good knock of 105* with the late hitting dragging us to 228. Indeed, if f we’d had Cracknell at the Battle of Hastings, the Normans may well have gone home. Special mention to ‘wides’, who played beautifully for 30*. Tea was superb – the veggie pasta salad almost certainly the best pasta salad to be consumed this weekend anywhere in the Shepherd’s Cot. Post-fusilli, there was a score to defend. As it transpired that Roger Telemachus named his pet dogs Phil and Victor, the great left-arm seamer – not to be outdone by our hosts, began with six wides before a legitimate ball had been bowled. The plan was genial; lulled into the falsest of senses of security, the opener finally feathered one down the legside to HRH Edwards. From the other end, Parker was cooking up a broth of unplayability. After getting the prize scalp of Raza, caught by Joseph at a hovering mid-off, Friend snaffled a lovely little grab in the gully. Three became four when the new man, having changed his bat – presumably for a wider one, finally located his off stump - although by now, it was sitting on the floor - never good news. Another followed as Masud held one at cover before Parker was denied a fifth by a momentary lapse in Lake’s brilliance. A fifth did follow, the batsman choosing a bad moment to get his front foot stuck on the crease in front of middle. 12-2-27-5 – a cracking little spell from the skipper. Indeed, if the Military Medium were an army, Parker would be Field Marshal Dibble-Dobble. Dr Wickets got his customary scalp, their stand-in captain falling hook, line and sinker into a beautifully considered trap. Masud cleaned up one and Edwards held onto a super little grab standing up, before South Africa’s greatest export since Biltong finished off proceedings. A good win, bravo to all. Cracknell genuinely superb with the bat and Parker fantastic with the ball. Congrats to Shep on his ton and to all on an unbeaten week. Three more wins and who knows what might happen. Hampstead, Ealing and Richmond all go head-to-head in the next fortnight so, while the fat lady is clearing her throat, there is still the possibility that she might lose her voice (if one sees what I’m saying). Uxbridge come to visit the stronghold next week. At least until 3rd September, this is our title. Let’s enjoy it.

North Midd 4th XI vs Stanmore (Away)
Stanmore 192/9 from 45 overs
North Midd 196/6 from 42.3 overs
North Midd won by 4 wickets

On a Saturday in Bushey when both desperately teams needed a win, the Mighty 4s completed a hard-fought victory against a spirited Stanmore outfit. Asked to bowl on a hard pitch and a dry outfield, Pistol and Percy took the new ball and began well. Pistol picked up two early before the opener and number 4 settled. Wasim and KP took over, keeping it tidy, before Lulu came on and destroyed Stanmore’s middle order with three lovely wickets in the bowling spell of the match. An excellent run out from Dykie removed their dangerous lower order ‘Blocker’, before KP came back and cleaned up the tail, leaving Stanmore with a very chase-able 192 from 45 overs. KP and Richard went out to bat and started blazing immediately. With 42 on the board after 6 overs, KP received a high full bunger which he seemed to lose in flight, and it smashed into the top of off on the full, out for 22 from 14 balls. New-boy Joel batted patiently with Richard, who kept up the initial pace, before falling to a well played 44. Chrissy came in, and immediately set about dominating the attack, biffing the ball to all parts before perishing for 27 from 14 balls. With 70-odd needed from 18 overs, Pat entered and played an intelligent innings, pushing the balls into the gaps, always along the ground. When Joel, who had been hit on the forehead by a ball which jumped suddenly off the pitch, fell for a solid 32, Percy came together with Pat, and they kept chipping away at the total, but Pat soon fell LBW sweeping for 21. Late order cameos from Pistol and Wasim knocked off the runs in quick time and North Midd got the valuable win with a few overs to spare. The win was a great team performance in which everyone contributed. A word has to be said for Stanmore who played in the best possible spirit, in a game which was enjoyed by all. Results elsewhere ensured that the Mighty 4s moved out of the relegation zone, and up to sixth position, with three matches to go. Go the Midd!

North Midd 5th XI vs Chiswick (Home)
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