Now have you ever had that feeling slowly starved of oxygen until you're just left simmering. That was the feeling of the game against Putney 4s, much to our chagrin.

The scorching sun baking the Hollie's pitch, a good deck that would loosen up as the day goes on, Rahul was unlucky to lose the toss. Being sent out to bowl first though wasn't so disheartening, with Qammar and Damon there to provide that lethal balance of accuracy and pace.

Both bowled, very solidly, creating some chances, but unfortunately also conceding runs on a lighting fast outfield. Damon was unlucky to drop a very difficult caught and bowled, a skied ball that swirled in 3 different directions before slipping through his fingers as he fell back trying to catch it.

With that being the dangerous opener, we were feeling a little cautious, only for Jay to remove him LBW soon after.

We knew we had to squeeze the pressure harder. Rahul and Jay bowled very well to create a lot of chances, with Rahul taking 2 wickets to keep the game well balanced. Jay was unlucky, with a lot of streaky runs going just past the slips fingers on a couple of occasions.

Drinks rolled round with the oppo at 120-3. It felt tight, a few wickets and maidens and we're right in the driving seat. With myself and Elena bowling, we were looking to punish them.

Unfortunately we couldn't predict that they would have a top quality couple of batsmen take the game from us. Whether he was dropping back and flicking the ball to cow for 6, taking 2 paces down the pitch to launch a straight maximum, or playing a cover drive on the walk for 4, it felt like we just couldn't put this batsman under pressure.

He eventually retired after 110 runs. Jay and Damon had come back on and done a good job of taking wickets and tying up the other batsman, but the damage was done.

They closed on a mammoth 298, leaving us a long way to go with the bat.

Despite that total though, we had a steely determination to go and do it.

And for the first 5 overs it looked promising, with Ean and Yanni keeping us within half a run per over of the rate. Some gorgeous stroke play through the covers from both, supplemented by Eans strong pull and Yanni punishing their short stuff to cow corner.

However, their bowlers soon sharped up and found the length and line. The run rate started to climb and eventually that pressure told as Ean, on 33, fell to a run out as we tried to up the rate.

As I strolled to the middle I looked at their bowling and was trying to calculate how to manufacture the 10 an over required to chase this total.
This proved to be a crucial mistake as I failed to do any of what I'd planned before being bowled for a pretty abysmal 8.

Our faith kept strong, in the Greek God Yanni, standing firm and punishing the opposition when he got the chance. Partnering that with Rob Mead playing some gorgeous drives and we believed still.

Again our faith was punished as they snuggled Rob caught behind.

Out strode Theo Burns. He's scored runs this year, he can do it again. And he did, with some dispatched balls treated with utter derision despite being on middle stump.

This lasted until he was eventually caught hitting out. Not before Jon Ryves had finally paid the oppo back by making them lose a ball (it's only 5-1 in that regard now) with a crunching drive back over the bowlers head.

Jay fell to a good catch, and Elena and Rahul tried to rescue us some dignity, which they did elegantly. Rahul unfortunately fell close to the end, and Damon ensured we at least batted the 40. Losing by just over 100 runs.

An ultimately tough day, where in reality we got beaten by a better team, who had a few batsman who could change the game (Bazball does work see).

Some good highlights can still be taken: Yanni scoring 60, Jay 3-fer, an Elena 11 not out and tidy bowling, Rahul bowling tight lines and taking 2. Even better are the lessons we can take from these games. We will be back stronger, Plough on!

Match report from Harry Davies