Ricky knew a win yesterday would put them in a strong position to avoid relegation in a division that has shown anyone can beat anyone and it's a real fight to the wire. A loss would have meant it was out of Ricky's hands. So losing the toss on what looked like a green, damp wicket was not the perfect outcome for Captain Cookie.

Opening the bowling was young Kyran for Potton whose claim to fame was that he dismissed Captain Cook (Alistair Cook, that is) when he played at Potton a month ago. But this time he wasn't so lucky as Maz (36) and Taz (15) started well and it was a surprise when Taz edged one behind in the 10th over with the score on a healthy 46. Maz was next to go LBW and Ricky had one of those wobbles where Shammi and Harvey departed within an over of each other and Ricky were pegged back to 78-4.

Ibby came to the crease and played with outstanding confidence and he and Aamir had a half-century partnership against some tight spin from Potton. After the 2nd drinks break, Aamir played across a straight one and so Ibby was left to shepherd the remaining batsmen for the final 13 overs. A target of 240 became 220 and then 200, but even that wasn't possible as Potton caught and fielded well, with one astonishing one-handed catch on the boundary to dismiss Majid. 196 was the final tally, Almost 100 runs short of what the team scored on the same ground back in June. Would it be enough?

The answer wasn't long in coming as ex-minor counties captain Welch and Captain Sean - fresh from scoring 144 last week against West Herts - set about Majid and Aamir with real intent. The score was 60 when Sean edged a Cookie lifter to Farhan (good catch!) but it was only 8 overs in and Potton have an impressive batting line up. Cookie produced a straight one to Welch who was rapped in front of middle stump to end his participation and Ricky needed 8 wickets to win.

It was then that the game turned on it's head thanks to an astonishing spell of bowling from Azeem. He bowled straight with just a little turn and that flummoxed the Potton batters. Jack Brooks was bowled for 4, West LBW for 10 and then Harvey dived full length at short gully to snatch a ball from the floor to dismiss Proudman. The last 6 batters could only manage 5 runs between them as Azeem had time to take a caught and bowled that also hit him in the face, and Uzy took a great diving catch close in.

The last 3 wickets all fell on Nelson, (111) to perpetuate that myth, and Ricky had a valuable 30 points in the locker. It's now clear that a win, or a decent losing performance next Saturday will see the team finish safe from relegation. But let's try for 30 points to make it a good finish in a topsy-turvy season.

Azeems figures of 7-31 were the best since Aamir took 7 -22 against Northwood Town.