Well, what a day down in leafy middle England (Chepstow) and one to remember for a long time. Thanks to the Argus we had turned from whipping boys to a dangerous side all in the space of two weeks, the world of village cricket really is that topsy-turvy.

Won the toss on a cracking looking batting track but overhead conditions suggested it was like Fordy (full of swing). So put them in and CJ bowled a corking first over and beat their opener three times before removing him with a beautiful outswinger. Then in his second over he dropped a short one to their tall number three who gloved it onto his arm and the Dr took a fine catch down leg-side.

CJ continued to bowl beautifully in the Boycott "corridor" and was causing all sorts of problems as the batsmen continued to play static from the crease. As my mum told me, you can only play in cement for so long and CJ struck again with another outswinger caught sharply by Rogers (world's 2nd best teacher/2nd slip) and no misprint he caught it and they were in the preverbial at 17-3 off 12 overs.

Danny at the other end wasn't his usual miserly, tight, restricting (talking about bowling) self and so a partnership developed between their tubby Kiwi star and the other opener. It was time for the famous Ford to come on after a day of practising against KP, Ambrose and Shah. In his first over, one fired out the side of his hand and spun the wrong way, completely deceiving the Kiwi who was bowled liked a light ten pin bowling ball (with ease-does this work, i'm not sure).

This signalled a collapse and Wills continued to mop up with glorious precision bowling like a young Benaud crossed with a porky Warne. He accounted for the next 4 in quick succession as Chepstow were shellshocked at 51-8. Was this really happening? Would we all suddenly wake up? Were we actually playing not dreaming? Can i think of any more rhetorical questions? Do i need to labour this point? Has the moment gone?

Anyway, their number 10 put a quick-fire 20 together and a recovery looked on until the original 90's Mop finished him off but there was still "rowdy roddy" fawsitt to account for. He looked quite dangerous and "reminded me twice that you have to bat on this and i bowl as well". This would have scared the boys but for 2 reasons, the track was a belter and easy-paced, and secondly we had seen him bowl before with precision at a gentle medium pace. Thirdly we only had 86 to get!!!

Moving on, out when Tommo and Rogers to face their opening bowler and skipper Sellars who is probably the 2nd quickest and 2nd best bowler in the league (you do the maths). The boys played beautifully in the 10 overs before tea (before tea cos they were already all out before tea you see) and we raced to 29-0.

After tea Sellars got the deserved but slightly fortuitous wicket of Tommo for a well-crafted 23 and that meant that the Brecon Beast that is Rob "Ron" Birch came to the crease. He carried on his fine form and duly dispached their bowlers around the ground with a succession of finely time drives adn flicks. Rogers at the other end was like a rock and not even Steve Mcqueen would have dug him out of there. We got home with nine wickets and 39 overs to spare for one of the finest victories that the club have produces since we beat Blaina in the dark in 1993(incidentally i played in that one too).

19 points for the lads and that cements our position as the fourth best team in the league. Hopefully we might now get some recognition but not too much as we hate to take any credit from the sides doing well about 5 leagues below us!!

MOM: Fordy, 5-18 off ten inspired overs.

TFC: No-one, the complete team performance

WOC: Every dog has its day, celebrate it hard but remember the dignity of winning well (no repeat of singing in communal showers-save it for our showers).

PS: WOC standings for word of caution.

A blissfully happy skipper who is revelling in the boys efforts.