This clue sent our treasure hunters to Bexley Cricket Club, where the code was tucked away on the back of the scoring box — a perfectly sneaky spot in a place devoted to keeping count.

The “trimmed green theatre” is the cricket ground itself: neat, open, and ready for all the drama of a summer match. “Measured contests” keeps us firmly at the crease, where every run, wicket and over is carefully counted.

From there, the clue nudges us towards the “house of quiet sums” — the scoring box, where the numbers sit patiently while everyone else does the running about.

Cricket has been played in Bexley since as early as 1746, but the club’s official history begins with a rather famous match in 1805. Bexley took on the full Kent County side for a whopping wager of 500 guineas — quite the prize in those days — and, in a glorious upset, bowled Kent out for just 6 runs before winning the match. To this day, the club’s badge proudly displays “1805” in honour of that remarkable victory.

You may have hit that one for six, but we’re bringing on the spinners for the next clue — so take guard, treasure seekers: the real game is about to begin!