Hawkley v Ascot Aardvarks: BATTING first, Hawkley’s opening batsmen Liam Lloyd and James Pringle began the innings in positive style, scoring 18 runs in the first five overs before the Aardvarks’ Thomas uprooted Pringle’s middle stump.

Sam Cunningham then joined Lloyd at the crease and set about the Aardvark bowlers, hitting seven boundaries in a rapid innings of 39 which took the Hawkley score to 74.

Cunningham’s dismissal precipitated a collapse as four wickets fall for 20 runs. Andrew Horton and Magan Singodia restored a measure of respectability as the innings finished on 129 all out.

An early finish seemed in prospect as the Aardvarks openers Thomas and Butcher raced to 50 without loss in eight overs. Thomas retired to allow his team-mates a chance at the crease, and this, coupled with a bowling change to bring on the economical Lloyd, gave Hawkley a glimmer of a chance as runs dried up.

With Lloyd’s bowling difficult to get away the batsmen targeted the off-spin of Viv Evans, who was duly rewarded when Singodia pulled off a sharp stumping to remove Tom Butcher.

Three more wickets for Evans gave Hawkley hope of achieving an unlikely win, however the Aardvarks needed only 20 runs from the final ten overs with five wickets remaining.

Hawkley’s fielders crowded around the batsmen as Cunningham took a skied caught and bowled and then ran through the visitors’ tail to hand Hawkley victory by 11 runs.