Finally the rain stopped as the Shackstar moved into orbit around Knaresborough Forest and Sherman knew he had to start bagging some points with Helperby storming the table already seventeen points clear of the dream team.

Another wet week and luckily Sherman won the toss and, despite moaning from Arnie about batting first stuck, he stuck the homeside in to bat on what looked like a typical English sponge of a track.

There was more grief for the struggling captain when he crumbled to Winton letting him take the new ball and the game was under way, it wasn't long before the Gingerbread man chalked up his first scalp of the season when Skaith nicked one to Sherman at second slip and Forest were none for one and Darth Angry was dreaming of an early start to the nights drinking.

Gobby took over number two from the bottom end and as usual didn't disappoint, a tidy over and Winton was steaming back down the hill for over number three, a straight one took care of Armstrong who went leg before and Forest were on the rack at two for one and both openers were back in the hut.

Gobby finished off a tight four over spell and Mad Frankie was tossed the ball, instantly removing Marshall for sixteen, Sherman taking an excellent diving catch at gully and it was twenty two for three.

Winton finally decided to take himself off and Sherman turned to the Lav from down under for some more pace and some more pressure for Knaresborough as run rate had slowed to a dribble.

Twenty two for three was soon twenty four for four when Lavs picked up his first English scalp, bowling Pyke for nought and Forest were crumbling like a stale bread bun.

Horesman was next to depart when the Aussie pace proved too much for him and a fine edge went straight to Hebbs gloves and at thirty eight for five Sherman was hoping to skittle the home team out for less than fifty.

Stalker and Walker held off the Blubbs attack and Piewalker, Winton and Sherman all had a go at breaking up the partnership but after thirty overs and still five wickets to go Forest looked like holding out for the point.

Sherman turned to Bubba for some inspiration and sure enough in his second over the lovestruck Romeo removed Stalker for forty four and Forest were back in trouble. 

The wickets now started to tumble, and Bubba removed Walker, Furniss and Thompson in the space of four balls and the homesides point rested on a knife edge with still eight overs to go.

The Forest tail managed only five more runs when disaster struck, Rose called Taylor through for a suicidal single, Gobby scooped up the ball a direct hit saw the end of the Forest innings with a final total of one hundred and twenty five, but after Blubbs performance here last year could that be enough?

It was Winton who graced the steps with Angry to kick off the innings this week and Sherman was hoping with a good start from Mr Tantastic the Forest score would soon be in his sights.

Winton crashed the Forest openers and was soon on sixteen from his four scoring shots, a drive too many though and Winton was on his way back to the salon for sixteen and Blubbs were twenty six for one.

Bubba kept his number three spot and joined Angry in the middle, swishing away early in his innings trying to single handedly win the game. The partnership flourished and Bubba was soon outscoring Angry as the score raced to ninety four. A hot headed moment from Angry and a big swish of his lightsabre and over went the stumps bringing to end a match winning partnership.

Bupa Boy was the new number four with a disgruntled Arnie dropping down the order to five, with only thirty two more for victory Sherman was confident he would be taking his first six pointer of the year back to the Union. Bubba up the ante and the boundaries were coming thick and fast as he passed fifty and the job was done, an eight wicket win and full points what more could you want, well Arnie wanted a bat and a bowl this week, ah well theres always next week.

Points Awarded Knaresborough Forest: 0, Blubberhouses: 6

Fielding Points: R Lowe,