Following their regional final win over Winsley CC in early July, it quickly became apparent that Sunday 6th August would be a pivotal day in the Maverick’s calendar. With a key Home Counties League match already scheduled that afternoon, they now had to try and squeeze in a national plate T20 semi final as well, whilst also losing several of younger players to a conflicting county GU15 fixture ! The cricket gods kindly assigned them Basingstoke, as their venue for the cup match with Hampstead; not perhaps everyone’s first choice destination, but in this instance, with less than an hours travel time to Moreton, it gave everyone a fighting chance of getting back to Moreton in time to play Binfield. An 11am start was fine, until heavy rain the day before hinted at a delayed start at Basingstoke & North Hants CC. Fortunately the ground staff there did a terrific job to ensure a prompt start; Moreton players, Aimee Diab in particular, did the rest, to ensure both victory & a timely departure. Aimee’s 94* from 49 balls was a sublime innings, of the highest calibre; her near 200 strike rate meant a more “leisurely” drive back to North Moreton, with no driving licences put at risk.

In a contrasting game, Binfield were then defeated on a tricky batting track with 8 overs to spare & The Mavericks capped an amazing day, by jumping to the top of Home Counties Prem for the first time.