Six-hitting Cincers brought low by Bedford Row in injury time on Hampstead Heath

A classy 68 from Test Match, six-hitting heroics from Richard de Q, Jack and Behzad plus a fine bowling spell from new signing Mohammad left Cincers just three wickets from victory over Bedford Row.
So enter the Skip to bowl the penultimate over...and blow it!
Dot ball, wicket! and then two fours took Bedford over the finishing line with just eight balls to go.
Heads went down but not for long as this was a great game, especially as nearly half the Cincinnati line-up were newcomers.
The venue at 'The Extension' on Hampstead Heath was the scene of a memorable Cincers' triumph over Bedford a few years back (oh Jim, where have you gone!)
This time, with a depleted line-up (10 men v Bedford's 11) and only six men on the ground at the start of play, we were kindly given the option to bat first.
Test Match (aka Tim R) opened up with the Skip volunteering to join him ...only to remember the tall guy pacing his run-up was Bedford quickie Idnan. Gulp.
Sadly, the guy at the other end was arguably even harder to score off.
Result? A painfully slow opening stand off three for 0 off four overs (all runs wides).
It was only when the Skip actually tried to hit the ball that he got out...for six in about the eight over. Score: 30 for 1.
Enter Abid, armed with his trusty bat and usual bagfuls of advice for anyone who'd listen.
A stand of 62 was the result but with Cincers needing to get a move on post a competitive total against Bedford's strong batting line-up.
Behzad, who made his debut against London Saints in June, smashed one glorious six then lost his off stump.
Test Match strode on, passing 50 but then went for one boundary too many and was bowled.
That left Jack and Richard de Q to light the fireworks.
Playing his best at the crease for many an innings, Jack posted 24 - including a superb maximum over long on. Shot of the season so far.
Hockney expert Richard had Bedford's bowlers tearing their hair out as he smashed three sixes and an extraordinary four to square on the off-side off a near full-toss.
Even so, we needed 39 extras from Bedford to post 194 for six off 35 - a decent total but with unknown bowlers to come, may be not enough against Bedford.
We were also hampered in the field after Dee did his groin in going for a quick single (may have been the one that got Jack run out. Can't remember).
New recruit Jon Reed opened up the bowling, with 1 for 13 off three but hung his head in shame when his wicket came off a double-bouncer.
Fellow newboy Zeeshan looked good till he broke down in his second over, leaving Abid to take up the strain.
Bedford were always up with the rate, with skipper Richard Sharpe dealing in boundaries with close support from partners Dom and Sunil.
As they racked up the runs, it was more than just wounded pride for Cincers.
Keeper Jack took a fearful blow to the face standing up to brother Test Match's off-spinners.
He had to leave the field for a few overs.
While he was off, stand-in keeper Zeeshan took a blinding catch to dismiss Richard Sharpe for 42 - a vital break-through.
Richard de Quintal's quick skidders accounted for two Bedford men but no-one expected newcomer Mohammad to deliver the game almost into Cincers' hands.
Coming on a fourth change, the bowler (found by Cincers' man Sean Moloney, for the record) steamed in a very lively pace to finish with 2 for 10 off seven (both wickets clean-bowled).
So what went wrong?
Well, we needed just one or two more bowlers to keep it tight.
Instead, the Skip went for glory. The rest was history...
(Game played on Sunday, July 3)