On a surprisingly pleasant spring day at the Walker Ground, Michael Stevens, with a typical, all-round performance, steered his team to a comfortable eight wicket win to secure ten precious points.

He and Jack Upton bowled their full complement of 18 overs, straight off, as MTSSC collapsed to 71-8. Both took advantage of a slightly damp wicket, not surprising after recent climactic conditions, and there was some considerable help to the seamers. One over from Upton saw one batsman play and miss at every ball, as each one hit the pitch and jagged away to ‘keeper Phil Dunnett.

Good catches from Tom Edrich and Jamie Jouning and a brilliant one from Upton himself enabled him to achieve final figures of 3-21 from his nine overs. At the other end, bowling up the hill, Mikey, despite having difficulty with the dampish area around the delivery area, bowled with his usual variations, and finished with 4-40 from his nine.

The MTSSC number four batsman, Yogananthan, one of only two batsmen to reach double figures, played well and reached 41 before falling to an old, indeed a very old, Southgate trick, as Jamie Jouning held a brilliant one-handed catch from a standard floated away swinger from David Woffinden. A combined age of 94 years of experience, in partnership!

It was left to Luke Hutton to finish the innings, catching well, in Australian style at deep mid-on from off-spinner, Ravi Desai, and Southgate had a modest target to chase.

Mikey was in imperious mood, striking the ball well from the start, and his extra cover driving was especially entertaining. Rory Miscampbell was soon lbw playing across a straight ball and Jouning soon followed hitting the longest of long hops into the air to mid -wicket, and Stevens was joined by captain sensible, Tom Edrich. With little difficulty, the experienced pair saw their side to an easy victory, with Mikey ending up with 56 not out and Edrich 19 not out.

A fine win but there will be more difficult battles in the coming season.