It is not very often that a Straggler bowling attack strangles the opposition, but this was exactly what happened at Nonington. Electing to bat, the opposition came out with intent, but were on the back foot in the eighth over, when Jasper Smallwood sent the middle stump cart wheeling. Wickets continued to fall, runs seemed hard to get and with thirty overs gone, only 88 was on the board. Even a thrash at the end was stifled by Mark Russell-Vick’s three for ten, and Nonington posted a mere 135 for 7 in 40 overs.

The Stragglers have been known to collapse from such positions of strength, but not this time. Andrew Cloke and Toto Berger set off at a steady four an over, keeping the board ticking, and never behind the asking rate. Even when they were dismissed, Andrew for a very polished 52 with a borrowed bat, Simon O’Malley and Jasper kept up the momentum, duly reaching the target with more than 11 overs in hand.