The weather was good and the pitch spicy as Noddy and I opened up against some tight Aston bowling. Noddy went for 14 to Andy Leese, who also got myself, Sanj and Ray. All the top got starts but were dismissed with scores in the teens. Ray went to a blinding caught and bowled by Leese, who injured himself in the process, and although he carried on to bowl Casey a few balls later he then withdrew from the attack. When Dave H went a shortly after we were 65 for 6. Meanwhile Dommy, making his return to the 1st team, looked full of steel. Rolin dug in and stayed with him, and Dommy built on with some gorgeous lofted drives and timing the ball beautifully. The two put on 94 before Dommy was out for 59. Rol went right at the end for 25 and we finished our overs on 171 for 8.

Fletch took a couple of early wickets with good balls, but it was Kieran, making his return after a long absence, who was the pick of the bowlers taking 2-15 of 11 overs. We kept attacking fields up and I switched the bowling around to get the lower order polished off. Dommy having a magic day came on and took a wicket straight away, and Dave H bowled a golden arm over, his first of the season in the 1s, taking 2 wickets. He finished with 3 overs 2 for 2. Dommy finished things off taking 4 for 12 to go with his runs.

This was an excellent team performance to bounce back from a couple of disappointing failures in chasing low totals. Aston were a weakened side with 6 of their regulars missing, but we were also missing 6 from the previous week and showed that our strength in depth is good enough to make any team worry about us this season.

Man of the match: Although Ray is claiming credit for injuring their best bowler, this will be remembered as Dommy's match. 59 and 4 for 12, what a perfect way to reply to being left out the week before.

Fletchism of the week: When discussing going to see a County Championship match next month, "It say's here 19th to 22nd July, but which of those days is the game on? Or have they not decided yet?"