The Ramblas winning train well and truly came off the tracks, as they suffered a comprehensive defeat at the hands of superior opposition this weekend.

With cloud cover offering some respite from the heat, and a number of the Ramblas contingent refreshed from a visit to a local tavern, the visitors won the toss and chose to bat – Jonny Stocks and Seth Clifford the men tasked with opening up.

The pair were looking in fine fettle until the latter nicked behind to be replaced by Tom Howgego, who repeated the trick a few overs later to leave the Ramblas 69/2 at just past the halfway stage. On a flat-looking deck and with the pitch only getting drier, the ante had to be upped, which is exactly what James Dilley did as soon as he entered the fray.

Alas, a pulled hamstring for J. Stocks meant a runner had to be summoned, with Matt Rudgyard offering his services. Despite his recently acquired pseudonym of Captain Chaos, disaster was largely averted, as Dilley swatted the attack away masterfully, while J. Stocks revelled in calling his captain to run his singles (and even a four) as he reached a well-crafted half-century, despite his injury.

Having seen a couple of drops go down, Dilley’s luck finally ran out as he departed for a 25-ball 40 that had added much-needed impetus to the innings, with Mark Loughlin (25 from 21) and Rudgyard (six from six) finishing things off after J. Stocks departed for an important 67, as the Ramblas closed on 186/5.

While there were some strong showings with the bat, the visitors knew that 186 looked a little light… and they were proved emphatically correct as, despite the bowling attack giving it their all, the hosts knocked off their total in just 24 overs for the loss of one wicket, Loughlin taking his 100th catch for the club off of the bowling of Michael Cooper for a small sliver of joy in a tough spell in the field.

It’s always good to be tested and the Ramblas were tested and, indeed, bested by a much stronger outfit in the nine-wicket defeat. Still, onwards and upwards in what continues to be a stellar season. And special thanks to Mani for his support from the sidelines – if you’re ever in West Wickham, you’re alway welcome.

Ramblas MVP: James Dilley and Mark Loughlin both showed aggression to get the Ramblas score closer towards a challenging total, but for batting on through injury to top score and for the added comedy of his calling with a runner, Jonny Stocks is this week’s worthy recipient.