The opening pair consisted of Joel James and James Blackmore who both started well to get Northchurch to 28-0 off 6. However, Potten End’s first team bowler Gurney, who had been frustrated by Blackmore (8), eventually made the breakthrough when he snicked behind.

Calum Lindsay was the next man in, and he and James proceeded to steadily accumulate.

This was the key partnership for Northchurch, as they took apart five more bowlers after the openers, with Lindsay in particular accelerated the run rate quite vigorously in the second half of his knock.

It wasn’t until Gurney returned to the fold that the partnership of 153 lasting 28 overs was brought to an end, as James (63) was bowled with the first ball of the over.

Lloyd Debenham walked out, but quickly walked back as the pace and accuracy of the PECC man splayed the timbers for a golden duck.

Jamie Moughton came out to face the hat-trick ball, which he defended, and saw off the rest of the double wicket maiden.

The other opening bowler also returned, although was dealt with easily enough as Lindsay reached his 100. But the skipper wasn’t to last long in Gurney’s next over, as a full and straight ball crept under the bat and sent Moughton back for only one.

This wicket brought Rameez Tahir to the crease, who could only see off two dots before also being bowled in the last ball of the over.

Northchurch’s collapse continued as Harry Chapman found a single with his first ball, but was caught out of his ground as Lindsay tried to drag him back for a second shortly after, run out by Potten End’s star man Gurney.

James Kelley joined Lindsay in the middle, but Lindsay’s attractive innings including no fewer than 15 boundaries was brought to an end on 104 as Gurney yet again found the stumps with his bowling.

James Deas walked out at number 9, and he (5*) and Kelley (6*) took seven off the ten remaining balls to leave Northchurch with a reasonably healthy 208 to defend.

The defence got off to a great start, as Deas had the mysteriously named “J. L-S” (2) well caught behind by Kelley in the opening couple of overs. Ashraf came in at three and looked to be steadying the ship a bit when an assumption that a ball down to a very fine third man had gone for four proved to be incorrect.

It was smartly fielded and thrown in by Lindsay and the bails were taken off at the bowler’s end as Ashraf seemingly congratulated Haggie for a boundary that hadn’t been signalled. Controversy ensued and heated discussions took place between both sides, although ultimately Moughton decided to withdraw the appeal on the basis that a run wasn’t being attempted, but the whole debacle proved a stern warning for Potten End not to assume anything until it had been confirmed by an umpire.

Soon after, Jacob Laing (who finished with fine figures of 6-2-8-1 trapped Haggie LBW for 6, bringing PECC’s captain Akhtar to the crease. He started imperiously against the opening bowlers, seeing both batsmen striking the ball well against seam.

Moughton turned to the spin duo of Chapman and Greg Pitcher. Failing to deal effectively with the change in pace and introduction of some turn, Ashraf (25) was soon picked off by Pitcher with a plumb LBW. An exuberant celebration from the bowler doing nothing to cool the previous tensions!

It wasn’t long before the next man in was also gone, bowled for a duck by Chapman. Akhtar and Pickard prevented a total collapse however, battling hard for their 24 and 21 runs respectively, however Pitcher had soon clean bowled them both with some very tidy bowling, finishing his 8 overs with 3-27.

By this stage it was looking like the game had been wrapped up for NCC, however not wanting to take anything for granted, the skipper opted to change nothing and continue with the spin that had been working so well.

With Gurney and Alwin at the crease, James was brought into the attack, and it wasn’t long before he got in on the action with Alwin (0) taken well by Moughton low to the ground and in front as he came round from extra cover.

Some slower bowling from Tahir also restricted the batsmen, and James had his second when he bowled the new man Harding, also for a duck. Well into the lower order now, Debenham replaced Tahir from the Rec end, making an immediate impact to have opening bowler “A. L-S” (7) caught at cover by Pitcher with his first ball.

Last man Jackson Stuart blocked out the next two balls, before Debenham bowled him for 0, finishing the game with figures of 0.4-0-1-2, leaving Potten End 83 runs short.

It was an emphatic win for Northchurch against a traditionally strong side, giving them only their second win of the season in some style. A solid fielding display backed up the earlier batting successes of James and Lindsay, and the mood in the changing room after was deservedly jubilant.

Man of the Match: Calum Lindsay for an extremely well measured 104 which built the foundation of the win.