Report: Fair weather at last for Faire win

Faire Is The XI 95 all out (Chak 2-9, Mohammed 2-14)

Jesters 99-5 (Verma 31, Padaki 25)

Jesters won by 5 wickets

After losing the last two fixtures to rain, it was a relief to take the field against Faire Is The XI at Chiswick House.

Faire were skittled for 95 in the 35th over with two wickets apiece for Phil Berman, Jonny Bridcut, DJ Chak and Adnan Mohammed.

We did our very best to mess up the chase, slipping from 68-1 to 90-5. Match manager Jonny Bridcut's valiant attempt to match Robbie's purple prose follows...

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After our opponents won the toss on a fair day in south west London, they gamely decided to have first use of a drying wicket, in full enjoyment of the Jesters' opening attack. After six overs the score was 7-4, with both Berman and Bridcut boasting a brace of wickets.

Yet fairer than they both, and much more bright, Faire skipper, the eternal burning Stephen, launched a counter-attack, with eight boundaries in his 36 ball 44. However, one ambitious leg side hoick too many meant he perished to the fiery light of DJ Chak (2/9). With him went the remainder of his XI, without rest or end, as the new-found golden wings of Adnan Mohammed (2/14) teased out their tail, as is so often the case. Andrew Short (1/8) and Rupesh Alluri (1/1) also chipped in with useful breakthroughs.

Robbie Hudson and Santosh Verma got our chase off to a brisk start, putting on 34 in 7 overs. Santosh (31) and Vasanth Padaki (25) continued the good work, with a combination of patience and power. However, 68/1 soon became 90/5; as to the Highest they approach more neare, yet is that Highest farre beyond all telling. Ollie Norgrove (17*) held firm and DJ joined him at the end to nurse us home - in the 22nd over - to where happy souls have place, the George & Devonshire.

Many thanks to Faire is the XI for a great fun afternoon and we look forward to next year's encounter.