A bowler, a bowler, my kingdom for a bowler !
The above words may be a slight adaptation from Shakespeare’s greatest play, but they are the most appropriate words to sum up the captain’s thoughts with 5 overs left and 16 runs to play with for 3 wickets.
On a serious not though, what a game.
The first thing that wobbled the game plan was the fact that we were playing on the main square. Then a less than confident skipper Billson won the toss and asked us to bat.
The pinks started very well and runs steadily accumulated while the wickets lost part of the scoreboard stayed in the low figures.
Big Mike rode his luck a little early on but soon set himself to hit some great boundaries and record his 2nd fifty for the club. Tony and Mr Bell supported him well and between them they set the pinks up for a big total.
Mr Bell tried rightly to force the pace and paid the price of losing his wicket and from then on the run rate just about ticked over as accurate bowling tied us down.
It eventually got to the stage where 6 downwards had to go out and smash what they could as the 40 were nearly up. Everyone contributed, but nobody went on to get in the big runs.
163 at tea was ok, but the bowling and fielding would have to be excellent for Rosaneri to compete.
For one man, excellent was almost an under description. That man was the fast bowling machine Paul Sindrey.
Paul bowled a supreme opening spell and then delivered a ball that resulted in a text book pace bowlers dismissal as a good batsman gloved a fast bouncer to Kurt behind the stumps. His second spell had to be used earlier than originally planned, but it was necessary in restoring control to set up a grandstand finish.
Jim bowled very well to calm the runs down and snaffle crucial wickets when it was most required, while a cameo spell from Adam picked up the trophy wicket of Edmonton legend Billson.
Then came the ending. Big Mike took a wicket in his first over to leave Pits with the ball at the allotment end. They required 6 runs and we required 2 wickets.
A wide followed by a good Sindrey catch left the situation at 5 runs or 1 wicket. Then a competent number 11 came in to confidently dispatch a short ball down the leg side for 4 which left the scores tied.
The fielders crouched around the bat as 1 wicket would ensure a share of the spoils.
Alas the bowlers worst nightmare struck Pits as he delivered a wide to hand victory to the home team.
So close, yet so far. We lost, but we had fun and competed so this will always be remembered as a great game.