Weasels batted without hesitation, anxious to improve on their display against Meopham, who had taken them for 313 the previous weekend. The Tattersdill/Flack combo might not be the fastest between the wickets on the Gents’ circuit (Dallas and Mattimoe currently have that honour) but their technique is excellent and they built a fine opening stand of 75. Ernie might have gone twice, a firm push low to the right of silly mid-on Wright and a snick in Snarler’s second spell that evaded Naish’s gloves, and as is so often the case when good batsmen are reprieved, they make you pay. Ernie would go on to glue the innings together with 46, made in 34 overs. Bill was more aggressive and was in sight of fifty when Sanjay bowled him, but Comber hit well before edging to Naish off the persevering Wright.

Ernie’s vigil ended with a high catch to mid-off Hemin, his first for the club. The Springbok Newlands and Stefan Sier then drove Dhruv all over the park to bring up the declared total of 174 for three off 41 overs, bowled in two and a half hours. As ever, King George’s Field provided a good batting wicket, but the Gents persevered and the fielding was good on a hot day. Snarler again was the pick of the bowlers.

Time was when the Gents would have gone gung ho for a score like this. In 1994, the club’s batters successfully chased scores of 146, 171 and 184, and ones of 154 and 169 in 1995 and 1996. Since then, however, halfway-decent scores have only been posted when batting first. A focus group has been set up to study this phenomenon. Its initial conclusion, we can exclusively reveal, is that the Gents have been over-reliant on a few key all-rounders, such as the Patels, Wright, Bodders and Ashton. Most, if not all of these coves will have bowled long spells in an oppo innings of 150 plus and while physically fit enough to bat for a long time afterwards, they may not be mentally fresh and tend to fall for low scores. It is interesting to note that in the 1994-96 run chases just referred to, fifties were posted by Nick Hubbocks (twice, against Wandham and Twelve Angry Men), Mike Hughes (Virgin) and Dhruv Patel (Weasels), none of whom had bowled in the first innings.

By five o’clock the wind had veered to the east. It was to prove a sorrowful breeze for West London’s finest. Poor Mike Hughes had hiked down from Knebworth on the train and run around the park in broiling heat for half the afternoon. His reward for this sterling endeavour was to get a leading edge to his second ball and scoop it gently into the hands of mid-off Stuart Blackley. There were only eight fielders in attendance at the time, so Mike’s placement has to be applauded.

The ten year extravaganza aside, John Townley had not played for the Gents since 1995. He was up for this one as he works with some of the Weasels, and amusingly recounted a lively discussion with Mr Owen about whether or not Manchester United FC were "vermin," the position adopted by the Kitbag editor. Never an aggressive stroke-maker, John’s defensive technique here was just what was required after Bodders edged the Owen outswinger in the fifth over. There then occurred a remarkable incident when Gary Lynch removed John’s bails while the batsman went walkabout between balls. "If you want the appeal to stand I’ll have to give him out," stated umpire Mr Hughes gloomily, upon which Gary withdrew the appeal, letting it stand as a warning. This incident was the only memorable feature of John’s 44 minutes’ knock, in which he remained scoreless (if seldom threatened) for his first eleven overs at the crease. He and Sanjay, unusually circumspect until a moment of madness, took the score on to 21 before John holed out off a ball which Jez held back well. Mr Townley later professed to have "enjoyed his day out" but "would probably not play again this season." His average of 2.00 puts him joint 28^th in the season’s batting averages. There are 34 players, so poignantly five are below him.

The requirement now was 154 runs in what turned out to be 28 overs. The odds on Dhruv and Sanjay batting that long together are fairly long, but one day they will do it and the record Gents’ total will be posted in the annals. A fast beamer from Newlands nearly took Dhruv’s head off, whereupon he called for the helmet. He had been warned off driving the full-toss so instead opted to pull one, picking out the only outfielder on the leg side, who took a sharp, juggling catch. Distraught, he then dropped Mike back to Tolworth station, the two forming a men’s therapy discussion group wailing about what a tough game cricket can be. Stick with it boys, you’re both pure class. Sanjay then holed out off Sier’s first ball and the Gents had declined catastrophically to 29 for five in the 16^th over. While the experienced Weasel seamers had bowled line and length, this was unimpressive stuff from the hosts. Three of the top five had self-destructed.

At the crease as the final 20 overs began were Hemin Patel and Jim Wright. With freak synchronicity, both had played on the Saturday and both had scored 39 in winning causes. They provided quite the best batting of the innings, adding 46 vital runs and crucially using up 14 overs and three balls in doing so. Hemin struck three fours and Jim one, and as often happens when two fit young players get in together, there was a fair sprinkling of threes, four in all, split in equal proportion to the boundaries.

Bill made the breakthrough with one of his looping off-breaks. Hemin tried to clear the claustrophobic close field, but could only pick out mid-wicket Alphe, who took a good running catch. Still, the youngster had earned his corn and will be tapped for membership. Only 10.2 overs remained when he was out, trudging back to the boundary to advise the tail to be streetwise and delay their entrance in order to minimise the overs the Weasels could bowl. The Gents properly ignored him and sprinted out to face their doom like keen young subalterns going over the top in the First Battle of the Somme.

Kirkwood had now returned. With his fourth ball he got the edge off Mr Buck’s bat into the ‘keeper’s gloves. Toddy followed bowled by Derek in the first ball of his next over, the 33^rd of the innings. By now, a Weasel win was the likeliest result, but Pongo dug in to give brave Jim staunch support. His twelve minute nought may have been the tensest he has ever played. Jim nearly saw the game to its end, but with three balls left edged a beauty from Owen to Lynch, to much delight. Mr Naish coolly blocked the last three balls with his usual impassivity and lack of foot movement. But he survived, and so did the Gents. That’s two wins and a draw in the last three games, and all against top teams, but this was nothing like the best of the club.

That’s only two wins in the last ten games against this oppo now. This period included two dismal President’s Cup innings of 72 for 9 and 76 for 9 in the last two years. A more assertive approach will clearly be necessary this time, although first ball run outs are not recommended.