FOUR wickets in four balls was beyond even the wildest ambitions of skipper Derek Thomas.

And that was what a battling Chalgrove side needed to retain their interest in this year's National Village Championship at the Brook Ground yesterday.

Sadly, such a remarkable feat was too much for dazzling Derek, who again led from the front as Gloucestershire champions Apper-ley threatened total domination.

Chalgrove showed gritty determination to give themselves a chance of a last eight place on the long route to Lord's and when Lawrence Harvey snapped up wickets five and six in his fifth over - the 36th of the innings - it left Thomas with a mountain far bigger than the previous two he had scaled in previous rounds.

Apperley were within five of passing the home side's total of 168. Burly left-hander Steve Macpher-son took a single off Thomas's opening ball of the 37th over, leaving his new partner on strike.

Three slips, a gully and a forward short leg were posted, but all to no avail as Ian Coggin leg-glanced the winning boundary, leaving Thomas to begin the inquest in a hushed dressing room.

You didn't have to be Brain of Britain to work out where Chalgrove faltered after Thomas had worked his magic with the coin and decided to take first strike for the 40-overs-per-side contest.

It took Chalgrove 24 balls to open their account, by which time they had lost Jon Talbot and Michael White. Steve Strong and Justin Lee set about the mammoth repair job, but at 43-2 after 18 overs, anything above 150 would have been a bonus.

Strong departed to the first ball of the next over, but Lee and his captain played sensibly to add 38 before the latter fell to a diving catch from a horrible delivery.

Thomas announced his arrival with a huge six and four more followed - all off Rowan Leeke in the space of eight balls - before the spinner nabbed his man as he went for a third successive maximum.

Thomas also blasted five fours in his 55-ball 70, but support was sadly lacking.

Apperley made a storming start and with 41 on the board after just five overs, the writing was on the wall.

Thomas, however, juggled his bowlers around and, despite an opening stand of 88, there was still hope for the hosts.

Thomas himself clung to the catch to remove Hugh Leeke and when the skipper came on to bowl, Apperley required 68 off 18 overs.

He grabbed an early victim with a superb return catch, but he couldn't dislodge Steve Macpherson, who saw his side home to a four-wicket win.

The Macpherson and Leeke brothers proved Apperley's key men.

Chalgrove, meanwhile, were really a one-man show on this particular occasion, but their talented leader will not forget the efforts of his colleagues in what proved a memorable village journey.

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