Another dominant performance from SOSCC moves them to within one bonus point of top of the table with 4 games to play, 2 of which against league leaders St John Renegades. SOS’s luck with the toss continues and opted to bat against the Royals’ 7 men at 6.15, although 3 latecomers arrived after the first over fully kitted out and raring to go. Cousins struck a boundary first ball but then succumbed to a short ball which kept slightly low and cleaned him up early, but then Dewhurst and Collier built a partnership of around 50 before Dewhurst was caught for 31 off 23 balls. Loader continued where Dewhurst left off, but as usual on FB3, boundaries weren’t easy to find and a few 2s too many had Collier limping off with his recurring calf strain, forcing retirement at 16 not out.
New boy Craig Swart came and went within one ball but his intentions were commendable as he eyed up a maximum first up. Richard Anthony was run out by finding the only Royals fielder with anything like a throwing arm. The tail wagged to post a required 8 per over with Loader ending as the innings top scorer with 46 off 30 balls, caught on the boundary in the penultimate over with about the only shot he middled.

In Royals’ response Cousins struck early with 2 early wickets, including a good catch in the deep from Woodrow. Richard Anthony also took 2 wickets with one aided by another fine catch in the deep, this time from Anthony Curran, which put SOS in control. Royals’ ever enthusiastic captain ran hard between the wickets and managed a couple of boundaries on his way to top scoring with 16, before Woodrow beat the outside edge and Loader was relieved to claim the stumping. Alfie Cutland’s impressive bowling displays continue, swinging the ball both ways and troubling Royals’ lower order but with the light fading it was the introduction of Ham-Howes that allowed us an early finish, taking 2 wickets in an over and making amends for his demotion to the bottom of the batting order for tardiness.
With the Royals only fielding 10 men it was left to Alfie to clean bowl the Royals’ number 10 to confirm another victory plus bonus points. Special thanks to Lewis Ham-Howes for making up the numbers in the field.