Win v Crabree Dads

Team: Andy, Don, Graeme, Neil, Simon and John Ca

Tuesday night’s final game had a distinct end of term feel about it. As we were already champions, Crabtree were more interested in giving everyone a game than trying to win. Instead of tossing, we agreed to let them bowl. Andy and Don opened and when the first over only had 5 scored off it, any chance of a record score looked slim. However the next few overs saw them pepper the back wall and they soon both retired posting over 25, in the 4th over, against some fairly terrible bowling. The heavy scoring continued with Neil and Graeme going well and then Neil also retired on 25. We finally lost our first wicket with the total already north of 100 with Graeme doing his usual of hitting a fine shot straight back to the bowler off the side wall. I then followed almost immediately for another duck. John Ca and Andy then continued to push the score along well finishing on a useful 182, but we really did have a chance of scoring over 200.

Crabtree were never ever in with a shout, even if their first pair did last the first 4 overs. This was remarkable given the amount of playing and missing and edges just falling out of reach. John Ca picked up the first wicket and a runout followed but somehow Paul Arnerich continued to hang around and he nearly made a quite underserved 25. Their final three wickets all fell courtesy of Neil’s bowling and Graeme’s catching. Given our lacking of bowling, Don had taken the keeper’s gloves and we saw what a brilliant out-fielder Graeme could be. Both his catches deserved catch of the season. They were taken single handed, above his head with both feet off the ground, fielding at the short mid off position. The second was possibly the best given that the ferocity of the drive. Crabtree were all out for 90 odd, leaving us undefeated in the league this season.

Win over Frogmore sees Colts crowned champions again

We completed our penultimate game with a win by over 70 runs; our biggest margin of victory this season. This saw us crowned champions again for the third year running, as the nearest team to us in the league has already lost two games.

I lost the toss again and we were inserted. Graeme and I opened and made a solid and fast scoring start, reaching 60 in the 4th over. Graeme in particular pushed the pace at the start hitting two lovely consecutive 6s, before succumbing for 19 to a “not quite Shoaib” slower ball. It is interesting that this was the first time this season that we had played with anything like a new ball, so we were surprised by the steep bounce achieved by a couple of their quicker bowlers, but equally the ball sped faster from the bat.
Neil came in and continued the good work and I retired on 25 quickly followed by Neil. John Co and Trevor then tried to keep up with the rate, but Trevor was then bowled by a rather useful inswinger. John Co demonstrated his “electric “running ability which makes him look like he is running on one of those moving pavements, but sadly with the motion in reverse. So, there was no chance of him making his ground as he hit a useful extra cover drive straight back to the bowler via the wall. This left me to return with nearly three overs to go. John Ca and I were rather cautious initially then we got our running going and finally destroyed their ‘best bowler’ who returned in the final over. This did not start well with an over pitched delivery being smashed back down the pitch for 6. This led to two of their players being put on the back wall, but still the runs came easily and the final over went for 24, leaving us with an excellent total of 161 and me just reaching 50.

In reply Frogmore started reasonably but never looked like keeping up with the run rate. They survived the first three overs but then a direct hit runout saw the wickets start to fall. John Ca bowled the other opener and Graeme added another with a lightening leg side stumping off John Co. After 6 overs, they were struggling at 60 odd for 3. This got worse when I took a wicket with my first ball, a marvellous diving catch at slip by Trevor taking the ball off the netting. Then Graeme quickly atoned for a drop off Neil by taking another a few balls later, leaving Frogmore out of it on 70 odd for 5. The last man then played and missed for two overs and so I, in an attempt to finish the game, for the first time ever, I threw the ball to Trevor. He produced a couple of useful leg spun donkey drops, but we finally completed our win in that over with another run out. Frogmore were all out for 80 odd leaving us Champions again.

Win v Flamstead on Thurs 1 Dec 2100

Another comfortable win last night by 2 wickets with nearly 2 overs to spare, chasing a total of only 99, as I again managed to win the spin the phone decision! It was a good bowling performance to restrict Flamstead to only 99.

I open the bowling and following on from the last game got my length and line right. As ever the ball bounced disconcertingly at times, and twice this did for the Flamstead batsman, making three with an excellent stumping by Graeme. Along with a run out, after 8 overs they were in real trouble at 44 for 4. The final pair stuck around with Neil taking the final wicket in the final over, with another good stumping by Graeme.

Our opening pair Graeme and Andy gave us a very solid start, taking us to nearly 50 before Graeme retired posting an excellent 26. Andy was then joined by Neil who rather quickly ran out Andy in sight of his 25. Only a couple of overs later I departed to another runout and then almost immediately, Neil was bowled. It was almost déjà vu from last match. However were with 30 of their total and Tim and John Ca, steadily knocked of the runs without any further alarms.