The second XIs promotion bid was in their own hands. However, after two defeats on the bounce they have slipped down the table after leading division 8b two weeks prior.

Defeat in a tempestuous game at Little Berko was hard to take on Saturday, but there were encouraging displays - especially with bat in hand after losing their key men early.

Bowling first, Northchurch let Little Berko get away from them in the back overs as the home side scored 262 from their 50 overs. In reply, the 2s came up 42 runs short, being bowled out for 220.

There were some harsh words thrown about by various players on the pitch at times, but the cricket game that did occasionally break out between various arguments was brilliant.

There was some strong hitting on what was a very green wicket considering the warm weather but it still played true - leading to almost 500 runs being scored.

It also shared similarities to last season's encounter between the two sides. Northchurch were made to work hard on a hot day in the field, as it had been in 2017, as they watched their opposition put on a healthy total.

Although the 2s were bowled out without little resistance last time around, they did at least put up a better fight this time.

With the ball, Jack Randall worked hard for but to no avail, whilst Ben Pyne was unlucky not to remove both openers. Matt Shore escaped a few appeals but batted well throughout, taking advantage of some short pitch bowling at times to hit some glorious shots for four.

Glenn Coat and Bill Farmer fell to Calum Lindsay and Harry Chapman, but a strong partnership from Shore and the Little Berko skipper was vital. Shore eventually fell for a well made 72, with Durani catching him in his crease to trap him LBW.

There was still some powerful hitting to come, with sixes being deposited over the boundary. Ben Towler and Matt Dawson dropped catches which would have restricted the flow of runs and put Northchurch in a strong position for the reply.

There was little resistance down the order but that didn't matter as Trevor Allum hit a quick century before being caught off the final ball of the innings for 114.

Before that, Durani had bowled Ramiz Khan, whilst the expensive Calum Lindsay and Dawson picked up a wicket each.

The damage had already been done, though, with a difficult bowling and fielding performance from the 2s leaving them with the daunting prospect of attempting to get over 260 to win.

Their chase started in the worst possible way too. Jack Randall fell quickly for nine, being bowled by Joe Smith, before Ryan Smart was removed by an outrageous catch by Shore. Diving to his right-hand side, he plucked the ball out of the air to get rid of Northchurch's most in-form batsman.

With the 2s in trouble, Joel James and Lindsay built a solid partnership and laid a platform of hope for Northchurch. The latter batted well for 50, digging in well alongside James before being bowled shortly after getting to his half century.

James meanwhile, had been run-out for 27 moments before that, as Little Berko claimed two wickets which left the 2s in trouble once more.

Towler was in at five and scored ten, which included a lovely drive down the ground for four, but was unfortunately caught by Shore off the bowling of Smith.

Ali Fantham and Dawson looked to up the run rate with around 20 overs remaining and they went some way to putting their side in a promising position. Fantham scored very quickly, hitting two sixes and three fours on his way to 28 from 17 deliveries whilst Dawson struck four boundaries in his knock of 18.

Dawson edged behind though just as he was getting going and then Fantham picked out the man down the ground a few overs later.

Northchurch still required around 60 runs in the final ten overs but wickets continued to fall and they were left short of their target with just under six overs remaining. Durani was caught off the bowling of Ritchie Matthew for six and then Pyne was bowled for nine.

Chapman was the last real hope of steering Northchurch home, but after some well timed shots, was the last man to fall, departing for 15.

NCC man of the match: Sunni Durani for his figures of 3 for 26 from eight overs.

Full scorecard: https://northchurch.play-cricket.com/website/results/3379050