Team captain Andy Meyer’s continued absence through injury saw Nic Vos accept the crushing burden of captaincy, a decision reminiscent of Frodo’s brave decision to carry the One Ring to Mount Doom.

Whiteley Village is no Mordor of course and the mid-summer heat and a green, well-prepared pitch provided the perfect backdrop for the sequel to a match at Fetcham Grove in May which saw Leatherhead win by 7 wickets.

Vos showcased his trademark professionalism from the start with catching practice during the warm-up, in sharp contrast to the home team’s preparation which involved an unusually large amount of London Pride.

Whiteley Village won the toss and put Leatherhead into bat. The home team started well, claiming the opening wickets of Berryman and Felton (the latter to an lbw decision from our umpire which helpfully ignited the debate as to who was buying the first post-match jug) to leave Leatherhead 16-2.

Vos and Wayne Cannon restored order, and both retired to the pavilion on 30. Their combined 60 runs were scored off 55 balls and included nine boundaries.

Valuable contributions from Damon Thompson (15), Aashish Vagiri (9) and Graeme Williamson (16) left the home team chasing 135 at 6.75 an over.

Leatherhead’s bowling attack was led by pacemen Greg Ireland and Thompson who bowled eight overs straight. Ireland was metronomic and struck in the first over with Andy Clegg taking a low catch in the covers that owed much to Pilates but which at one point threatened A&E. Ireland stuck again in the third over with an edge to Williamson and Whiteley were 5-2.

A change of bowling saw spinner Metin Huseyin continue his recent good form, taking the first of three wickets in the ninth over to leave Whiteley Village 26-3.

Tight bowling from both ends heaped the pressure on the home team and Leatherhead’s adrenaline rush translated into an active field with tireless work all over the pitch especially Stuart Evans on the Square Leg boundary and great catches in the deep from Vos and Thompson.

Felton made his mark with a late wicket but facing a run rate of nearly 10 an over, the home team struggled to accelerate, and they ultimately fell 25 runs short.