Cup final: Redbourn 137 for 4, Colts 138 for 5

So, to the final game of the season and our only chance of silverware to keep up our enviable record of winning a trophy every year. I am pleased to say we managed to keep this up, but as you can see from the scores above, it was only just. Indeed, Graeme felt we had snatched victory from the wide-open jaws of defeat.

We started well by winning the toss and securing the safer option of bowling first. Redbourn’s openers started solidly if not spectacularly against an accurate opening attack of Dave and I. In the fourth over, we managed our first break through, when my team mates managed to confuse the non striker by yelling for me to throw at the bowlers end, I failed to listen and launched the ball to Graeme, who speedily removed the bails at the batsman sauntered into his ground. He was less than pleased! The total slowly built but never at much more than 10 an over, sometimes helped by somewhat over enthusiastic fielding as dashed in helped the ball into the sidewall for an extra over throw. We had numerous close run out appeals that were not given, but given the quantity some had to stick. Mike ran out there number 3 and I followed with another, this time an underarm throw. Mike picked up the last wicket with his flight off-breaks via a successful LBW shout. Tim bowled impressively at the close making sure they did not convert their spare wickets into extra runs. In fact we did not concede a single rear wall strike all innings. So they finished on 137, a total they seemed more than happy with, but we felt was clearly gettable.

I had some challenges trying to decide the batting order, given the talent available. But finally we went with Graeme and Mike opening. The got off to an excellent start taking 17 off the first over, but over the next couple of overs, scoring slowed up a little. Mike was first to go playing a delicate leg glance from somewhere outside off, sadly this only deflected the ball into his stumps. Don went in next and but we starting to slip behind their score. Graeme as usual batted really well and when on 22, smacked a thunderous mid-wicket drive that would have scorched across the turf out side for 4, however, indoor it just went rapidly back to the bowler who completed an easy run-out. Graeme at this point couldn’t quite except that he had played such a good shot and go out and he disappeared off in a strop! Don was then joined by Tim but this partnership did not last long with Tim being cruelly run out, from a very dubious decision. When Don was then well caught, we were 70 for 4 off 7 overs with only Dave and I left. So we were clearly staring down the barrel of defeat. The first ball of the 8th over was to prove a turning point, a juicy slow full toss, that Dave smashed to the back wall for 10, the next 5 balls were all worked into the sidewalls for singles: 25 off the over, but still 40 short of our target. Things then took another dip as Dave clipped airily off his legs and was well caught off the side wall. This left me, last man standing, with over 40 to get. However, we need less than 10 an over and I managed to work the next couple of overs well to take us ever closer to our target. With two overs remaining, we need only 15 and with the final over remaining we need only 4. With a three off the first ball, I happily concluded things with an easy push into the side wall. So, not for the first time, the number 6 had turned good for The Colts, with 47 not out, (not quite as many as Tim M got the last time).

Colts: 129 for 5, Crabtree Dads 115 all out

Sadly this game was an irrelevance, as the league had been wrapped up the week before when Long Marston won their final game. Even if we won this last game and finished on level points, the title went to Long Marston as we lost to them in our game. Also Crabtree only had 5 players and picked a useful ringer to give us a game.

However, we were successful in our last game, but made hard work of it. We won the toss and for practice reasons, I decided to bat. Dave and I opened and got off to a slowish start with Dave again struggling to locate the side wall. I faced fours ball scoring 9 and then when Dave did hit the side wall with a firm push to midwicket, somehow it flicked a fielder’s finger off the side and then hit the bowlers stumps, leaving me stranded. Neil then joined Dave and the run rate again was rather slow, before Dave holed out off the side wall. Trevor then joined Neil and the run rate briefly climbed when Neil started to located the back wall. Neil retired and Trevor was joined by John Cowan, but only briefly, when a calling mix up left John stranded at the strikers end with Trevor still in his crease. John Callendar was next in and received a few good overs so the run rate started to slow. Trevor then fell caught leaving Neil to return for the final two overs. These were quite productive, but Neil fell on the last ball going for a second run (somewhat encouraged by me), which would have meant 6 runs, however the rules mean that indoors completed runs don’t count, which I didn’t realise this(;-(. This left the final total on 129 for 5.

Dave opened the bowling and was immediately successful, a straight ball which the opener played all around. I returned to my leg spin and immediately found a good length, hitting Trevor nastily in the teeth with a climbing top spinner, but this bye was the only run conceded in the cover. Dave produced a second good over and they lost another wicket to a suicidal run. My next two overs were good too and they lost another two wickets, to a good stumping from Trevor and a fine catch by Neil at silly mid on. However given our low total, they were still 50 odd after the first 6 overs and still in without a shout. As the overs went by, they kept just in touch and when their 5th wicket fell, this let in their opener who had retired and had looked good. We were down to the final over with 20 required to win: difficult but only two or three shots from victory. However, with three balls to go, we took the final wicket, a fine catch by Dave off the side wall to leave them 115 all out.

Played: Simon, Dave, Neil, John Ca, John Co, Trevor

Colts: 165 for 1, Frogmore: 109 all out

The good news is we are back to our winning ways. The bad news is Redbourn have now lost two more games, leaving just ourselves and Long Marston with only two defeats. As we lost to them, they only have to win their last game against Bamville to win the title. Therefore our only chance for silverware this year is in the cup.

We batted very well last night. Graeme opened and again retired on 25 after only 4 overs. Andy struggled for the first time this year and was finally was out for only 7 in the 6th over. After one poor over, Neil and I finally started to motor. I enjoyed a little luck with a couple of run out decisions not being given and we both retired with Neil hitting an 8 and me a 6 with our final strokes. Hugh and Tim then kept the tempo going to allow us to reach a good total of 165 for the loss of just one wicket.

Hugh and I opened the bowling and whilst the first couple of overs were not poor their openers worked the ball around well. I then had a nightmare fourth over at the end of which were 70; well ahead of the run rate. In the 5th over though they did lose two quick wickets, one to a rare family combination of Stumped and Bowled Sprowson (not the first we were told though). By the time Tim and Neil took over the bowling the run rate had dropped a little but they were just up with the required rate. Their opener had now retired, but the replacement quickly departed to a catch and then there was another good run out by Neil. This unfortunately let in the opener again but he did not last long either after another runout. The game was finally wrapped up soon after with, you guessed it, yet another run out. This left Frogmore 109 all out with still three overs to go.

Team: Graeme, Tim M, Neil, Andy, Hugh and Simon