Our final match of the season took us away to Betsham. They had conceded against us earlier in the season but had since gone on a good run of victories.
After one of the teams in the league had folded, the readjustment in points meant we could no longer win the title. However second place, and promotion, was achievable if we won.
We had a mighty team out and it was exciting that again we had got 4 sides out.
The pitch looked decent and the outfield was ok, if a little rustic. Clearly the adjacent sheep graze on it at times.
The captain had got up at 4am to return from holiday for the match, much to the delight of his long suffering wife. The old boy might be past his best on the pitch but he is still some tosser. Tails it was, and we chose to bat.
Tim Lush had a broken thumb and was, kindly, umpiring. Damps was promoted to open with Nigel.
Baker is on a remarkable run of form but didn’t seem quite himself. Perhaps that might have something to do with the rugby club curry night the previous evening. A liquid affair it would seem.
The bowling attack was decent but inconsistent.
Both our batsmen gave chances. A couple of catches were put down and an easy stumping missed. Damps had reached 27 before he tried to pull one and missed. The ball hit his pads and rolled agonising onto the base of the stumps. The bails stayed where they were. Sweet relief. Except he turned round to see Lush’s finger in the air. Leg Before Wicket. He would actually have scored more runs but having earlier played a glorious lofted straight drive he sat on his bat admiring it, only to realise it had not reached the boundary and scrambled a single.
Fowle was in next. The guy is a consummate cricketer as well as a top bloke. In a must win match, it was lovely to see him in the middle. Baker had gradually sobered up and started timing the ball. One 6 was brutal. He reached 50, which is becoming a trend, before holing out. He has been Mr Reliable in the second half of this season.
We had only scored about a hundred at drinks but Millen was in next. He can score runs when he is switched on. And he was today. The pair had taken the game away from Hartley earlier in the season and were too good for Betsham. The fielding was a little ragged and bad balls were punished.
The run rate rocketed somewhat.
Fowle had reached 53 before charging down the track to the opposition skipper who saw him coming, and speared it wide. Stumped.
It should have been Horrocks in at 5 but he had arrived late and the unforgiving skipper had promoted Olly Patton. He made the most of his opportunity. An entertaining and classy 30 from only 14 deliveries contained a hooked 6 and seven 4s. One of which was all run.
Patton junior fell to a good catch at mid on.
Horrocks was next in. He looked decidedly grumpy about being given the chance to bat. Perhaps that was because there was only one ball left in the innings. All the same, how ungrateful! A scrambled leg bye took us to an impressive 278 off our 40 overs. Millen was unbeaten on 82 from only 63 deliveries.
We kept our focus after tea.
Damps opened up down the slope and was on the money as usual.
Peter Trott was bowling his delicious in swing up the slope. The opposition opener tried to go after him but got done by a beauty and was clean bowled. Peter carried on in the same vein. Two more clean bowled and two leg before, meant he picked up his first five wicket haul. 5-2-7-5. If those figures were not impressive enough, a great bit of fielding led to a throw into Skinner and a run out.
Damps joined in with the fun. A tidy catch by Fowle at short extra cover. Damps finished 5-1-9-1
At one point the opposition were 18 for 7.
Vening and Ben Lush were brought on. Both looked good, although the opposition number 6 decided to hit out. His 23 was the only score in double figures. Ben was 5-1-23-0.
Vening got the number 6 out leg before and finished 5-3-3-1. His development into an all round cricketer has been one of the highlights of your match reporter’s tenure.
Horrocks replaced him and bamboozled the opposition. But coming up the slope now was a rather sprightly Dave Patton who was bowling sharp inswing. One delivery knocked the off stump flat out of the ground. He was to finish with 2-1-4-1. Horrocks did for the last man with a quicker ball that was fended off but spun back and knocked off the bails. 2.4-1-2-1.
The opposition skipper is a good bloke and very good bat but had put himself in at 11. He was unbeaten as we bowled them out for 53. A comprehensive win by 225 runs.
A drink was had with the opposition before we headed back the The Green for many more drinks.
Second place had been secured, and we should be in Division 7 next season.
Your match reporter, and captain, is heading off into the sunset of semi-retirement and handing over the reins.
It would be remiss of him not to thank all of those who have helped him, especially Jamie Baker his esteemed Vice.
You’re useless buggers but I love you all.
Onwards and Upwards.