The Village cup Steam train gathers yet more momentum!

So with 30 points in the bank from Saturday. Ncc Traveled to Langleybury for the next chapter in Northchurch's attempt to get to a Lords final in the Davidstow Village cup.

NCC won the toss & elected to bat on a bright sunny afternoon at the picturesque Langleybury. NCC started slowly & lost Opener Dave Pearce for 1 in the 4th over. George Liveing departed for 16 a few overs later & when NCC lost Mark Hobley for 0 NCC were under pressure at 39-3 in the 14th over. Matt Suckling was steady at the other end & made a determined 30 against some very tight bowling before being run out while trying to up the run rate.

At this point NCC we 81-4 of 25 overs & with just 15 overs left were deep in trouble. Tom Garraway joined Theo Gayton at the crease to begin a wonderful 91 run partnership in just 11 overs to bring NCC right back up with the rate & post a very competitive total of 205 from their 40 overs.

Theo was in his usual destructive form smashing four sixes in his 73 in just 53 balls to swing the momentum back in Northchurch's favor. Tom Garraway was in equally destructive form blazing 68 from 49 balls & taking Langleyburys spinners apart.

In reply Langleybury made a solid start & were 39 when they lost their first wicket to one of Tom Calders excellent 3 catches in the deep, Excellent opening spells from Lee Johnson & Calum Lindsay put the hosts under pressure as they began to fall below the run rate & the NCC squeeze had begun. Lee Johnson finishing with figures of 7 overs 1-16 & Calum Lindsay figures of 7 overs 1-19 did a great job up top.

NCC 's change bowlers did an equally good number on the Langleybury batsman & well supported in the field, Mark Hobley bowled well to finish on figures of 9 overs 3-40 & Dave Pearce 9 overs 1-36 really made the difference as this middle section of the innings really dried up the runs for Langleybury & made the pressure tell as batsman after batsmen fell trying to get back up with the run rate.

Tom Garraway was at it again with the ball & bolwed great to finish on figures of 5 overs 3-30.

Langleybury fell 46 short at 159 all out & the Northchurch road to lords bandwagon rolls on to set up a mouth watering tie with previous winners Reed in round 3.

NCC were delighted to add Langleybury to their list of big name scalps as they had previous knocked our Premier league side botany Bay in round 1.

Langleybury were beaten finalists last year at Lords & Reed won the competition back in 2012. One of the Reed winners that day Lee Johnson is now back at Northchurch where he developed as a colt & he's looking forward to the next round tie more than anyone!

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