Mason and Hensel star as threes return to winning ways

After winning the toss and deciding to bat first, we made a solid start with left handlers Harry Burnham (33) and Kaleb Stubbs (16) looking solid before both were undone by slower bowlers.

Wickets continued to fall frequently before Chris Hewlins (17) and Alfie Moore (18) steadied the ship to guide the side to their fourth batting point.

Once Moore was dismissed with a brilliant catch it brought the skipper, Tom Mason (30) to the crease and he wasted no time at all.

Hitting 18 off his first six balls, as him and Hewlins pushed the fielding side, running well between the wickets.

The pair continued to bat well before Mason was unfortunate to be run out for a rapid 30 off just 15 balls.

With just one over remaining, Ollie Hensel (9*) hit two crucial boundaries to take the side beyond 175 and to their sixth batting point and a competitive tea score of 178-9.

After our best tea of the season, Hensel (2-32) and Ethan Lindsay (1-14) opened up keeping it very tight with the home side limping to 21-2 from ten overs.

The ever reliable Hewlins (1-24) backed them up well as things were kept tight right up until drinks, which included a superb catch from Charlie Moore at mid off from the bowling of Hensel.

After the break, the home side upped the anti and looked to be coming back into it with their hard hitting number seven timing it well.

With just 22 required from four overs and five wickets remaining, the home side were firm favourites to get over the line.

However, a superb over from Hensel went for just four, followed by an over of two by Mason including the key wicket of the number five who had hit a fifty.

With 14 required off two overs, Hensel bowled superbly, conceding just three runs leaving the skipper 11 runs to play with going into the last over.

His experience showed as he took two wickets in the over for just three runs to finish with figures of 3-5 and secure a thrilling seven-run win.

A superb game of cricket. Huge thanks to our hosts Pylewell for a brilliant tea and for being superb hosts