Despite overnight rain, Leventhorpe School was dry for the 3rd XI who hosted Bancroft Lions. The opposition skipper called correctly, but with not enough players at the ground for the start, they forfeited the toss and Bovaird elected to field first.

He then rolled back the years to take the new ball and squeeze the Bancroft resistance with Harry Frans (1-12). His miserly 2-14 was matched only by the heavy length and hostility of Louis Kirby (4-22) who ripped the heart out of the Bancroft middle order. Paktsun (2-15) mopped up the tail to leave Sawbridgeworth 66 to get before the forecast rain arrived.

Last week's centurion Adam McDonald departed from the first delivery of the innings but clean hitting Mark Davis (44*) saw to it that the gathering clouds would not prevent Sawbridgeworth from taking the outright lead in Division 2 of the HEBL.