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.
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