Offchurch CC ground is in an elevated position with far reaching views across the countryside. It is also exposed and without shade, which made this ‘hottest-ever August Bank Holiday Sunday’ pretty gruelling for those in the field.
Fortunately, the pavilion provided ample shade for this correspondent.

Napton batted first. So, the hosts went out into the heat for the first 40-over session.
However, as the muggy heat carried on into the second session, this proved to be of no advantage to Napton; they had to field in similar conditions.

Openers Mike and Ollie, despite the heat, were enthusiastic between the wickets, not passing by a chance for any single on offer.
They departed in the 16th and 18th overs with Napton on 65-2.
Two more visitor’s wickets fell quickly and by the 22nd over Napton were 78-4.

New ‘signing’ Nick was soon partnered by Tom and this pair smacked the crimson sphere hither and thither.
Nick was caught in the 37th over after hitting his second half-century for the club.
Sam and Tom added valuable runs in the last three overs with Tom ending the session with a trademark ‘six’.

Commiserations for Ed.
All those not on the field were listening to the Test on a transistor wireless.
Stokes hit the winning runs just as Ed was facing.
The roar that came from all those around the pavilion must have been the reason that Ed completely missed the ball.

Napton, 192-8 after the allocated 40 overs.
Nick Brown 53 runs 7 boundaries inc. 2 sixes
Tom Hancock 41 runs Not Out 5 boundaries inc. 1 six
Mike Eadon 36 runs 4 boundaries
Ollie O’Brien 28 runs 2 boundaries
Sam Sensecall 11 runs 2 boundaries

With just under 5-per-over required by Offchurch the game was in the balance.

Greg and JP opened the attack for Napton.
This pair are two of the most economical bowlers in the club and are usually well-rewarded.
They both took a wicket in their second overs, JP repeating this in his third and Greg recording a wicket-maiden later in his session.
Mike was brought on for a particularly stubborn batsman and made immediate inroads with his first ball. A corker that lay the off-stump flat on the ground.
After 20 overs the hosts were 63-5.

A particularly fine bit of fielding by Sam back to gloveman Graham found a batsman well out of his ground.

Ollie gave one ball more air than a barrage balloon, tempting the batter down the wicket, only to miss the ball completely, thus bringing Graham into the action again for a quick-thinking stumping.

Offchurch completed their 40 overs on 156-8
Catches by James and Mike and some excellent fielding all round by Napton.

Wicket takers:
Greg Tuckley 8 overs 1 wicket-maiden 2-22
John P Eadon 7 overs 1 maiden 2-30
Mike Eadon 7 overs 1 maiden 1-17
Sam Sensecall 4 overs 1-17
Ollie O’Brien 5 overs 1-29
1 Run Out

This was the last game of the season besides the tour games.
Another good season for Sam whose decisions sometimes seem to defy reason, but nearly always seem to work out, often leaving this correspondent wrong-footed.
Well done Captain !!