A fantastic knock of 148 from Jack Randall helped them beat Redbourne 3s last Saturday, and despite a struggle to claim the final wicket, they eventually got over the line.

But there was no such struggle this week as Mike James, combined with Ryan Smart and Jack Fantham helped the 2nd XI reach their target.

Bowling first, the 2s were good in the field as they put in arguably their best performance of the 2018 season.

Wickets were shared as they bowled Offley out for 185 in 47 overs. It then took Northchurch just 37 overs to reach the target as they secured a seven wicket win at the Meadow.

Ben Pyne, following a week away, was back in the side and he claimed the first wicket of the day. He got Mo Chaudry to loop a simple opportunity to Ryan Smart behind the stumps and with that Northchurch were on their way.

Josh Hook and Josh Scott struggled to get Randall and David Vila away, but at the same time weren't offering the 2s many chances.

They put on a promising but slow partnership for the visitors, before Vila finally removed Scott for 24. The number three batsman had previously hit an aerial drive through cover for four, but had no such luck this time, picking out Randall for a simple catch.

Harry Bennie replaced Randall for Northchurch and soon had the scalp of Hook who was approaching his half century. This time it was Smart who claimed another victim, as Bennie had Hook caught behind for 41.

Offley's number four, Ansari caused some damage with the bat. He hit Matt Dawson for a four and a six in his first over, but a good battle with bat and ball was to ensue.

Ansari was undone by a number of off cutters from Dawson, before Harry Chapman finally got rid of him for a well made 54. It was one aerial shot too many, however, as Randall took another catch in the covers.

That was the first of three wickets for Chapman who finished with figures of 3 for 39.

Ansari's wicket signalled a cluster to fall which put Northchurch back in the driving seat.
Chapman had Daniel Goord caught by Pyne for four following an earlier drop, and then in the next over Dawson finally got one to stick in the slips after numerous weeks of the ball flying through the cordon. James took the catch as Iain Laidler was sent on his way for a duck.

Ben Towler was then on hand as Northchurch continued their good work in the field. He caught Mark Tattersall at midwicket off the bowling of Chapman for 11 as the 2s continued to restrict their opposition.

Left hander Darren Lunney had got lucky in inside edging a ball from Dawson for four, but that was to be his undoing an over later. Dawson got one to move late and as a result Lunney played one onto his stumps for 20 as the eighth wicket fell.

Vila and Bennie returned to the attack in the final ten overs and they were able to claim the final two wickets. That wasn't before the latter had been hit for a huge six by Courtney McIlveen after claiming Marc Ward.

With three overs remaining Fantham took a catch off the bowling of Vila to remove the final Offley wicket as they were bowled out for under 200.

In reply Northchurch struggled at the start with Randall departing in the second over, being bowled for just three by Scott.

Smart joined Fantham at the wicket and after a period of seeing the new ball off began to get into their stride.

Fantham started very slowly, but after playing two fours in the same over into the leg side finally found his touch.

It was an exceptional effort from him as he set up Northchurch's chase brilliantly. Fantham was originally not in the side, but after the 2s were short on players he stepped into the team despite having to leave for a party in the evening.

But it was credit to Fantham's commitment to the club as he scored 46, falling desperately short of a first league fifty to help his side's cause.

Alongside Smart, who scored a sixth half century of the season, eventually falling for 63, the job was almost done.

James had dropped down to four in the batting order this week and it was a place that suited him perfectly. After watching the previous batsman struggle early on, he crashed the ball to all parts of the ground.

He struck three sixes, including an incredible reach to hit one over the leg side boundary and before anyone had even had a chance to blink he had moved to 20 from an over and a half.

He finished not out on 53, reaching his half century from 23 balls. That was the quickest 50 in Northchurch 2s history, beating the previous record held by Chapman by one ball.

James and Towler (5*), saw Northchurch over the line with a host of overs to spare without much trouble as the 2s promotion hopes continued to get back on track.

Man of the match: Jack Fantham for not only stepping in last minute but digging in for his team and helping to see Northchurch over the line.