Strokemaker: Russell Franklin struck a fluent half-century which guided his side to ten batting points
The Fifths went down to a strong Southgate Adelaide side but demonstrated an exemplary attitude and effort and came away with 13 bonus points as a reward.
Down to ten men before the match even started, Knebworth won the toss and batted on what looked like an excellent wicket.
Progress was steady if unspectacular but the top three of Wareham, Hoskin and Taylor laid a solid foundation for the second half of the innings.
They all contributed to the score of 59-3, with Kris Jones joining the unbeaten Russell Franklin at the fall of the third wicket on the stroke of drinks.
Franklin then proceeded to play the role of strokemaker and soon pushed past his half-century as the score rose rapidly. Wickets were falling at the other end but the batsmen were still providing support.
When Franklin edged one to the keeper for an excellent 74, the impetus was taken up for the last few overs by Dave Mantle and Jo Barnes who took the score up to 170 (and maximum batting points!) on the last ball of the innings.
It was the highest score of the season so far for the Fifths.
The Southgate batting performances have been strong this year and it was easy to see why when their reply began.
Both openers looked assured and played their shots and, when the first wicket fell to a good catch from Kris Jones off the bowling of Franklin, the new batsman carried on in the same vein.
The Southgate batsman rode their luck through the innings and there were innumerable edges flying just past outstretched hands and the ball somehow missed both the wickets and the outside edge on many occasions.
A further two wickets fell but the score continued to grow, until the winning runs were hit with just over three overs remaining – a testament to the efforts in the field of all, particularly being a man short, and the high standard of bowling that meant the batsmen had to work hard to get the total.
Special mentions go to Ben Smith, who bowled as well as at any time this season and should have been rewarded with at least a couple of wickets, and Martin Malloco who volunteered as a stand-in wicket keeper at the last moment.
