Nearly but no quite good enough - is probably the best way to describe last Sundays match.
After the overnight rain the match was reduced to 35 overs with a later start time and with captain Slaps losing the toss the ‘Pinks’ were asked to field with only 8 men ready at the start of play with the youngsters still on route to the ground.
Sinders and one of our three debutants Arfan opened the bowling and Dunmow made a steady if unspectacular start to proceedings.
Arfan made the breakthrough with Jack taking a good catch at mid-off and then the fireworks started.
Jack and our second debutant Tinashe then bowled quick and accurately and at drinks Dumow were 82 for 4 with Tinashe grabbing 2 good wickets and Jack one..
However, the Dunmow captain and their ‘daddy’ from Saffron Walden CC soon began to pile on the runs and added over 100 for the 5th wicket. The Fonz snaffled two late wickets but Dunmow closed on a very good 206 for 6 at tea.
Big Mike and Arthur strode to the wicket knowing that a good platform was required. They then added a quick fire fifty partnership for the first wicket before the change of bowling did for BM.
With ‘Man Flu’ victim Cuz promoted up the order more fireworks were expected and he didn’t disappoint.
A run a ball fifty followed until the fast bowling ‘daddy’ took a nice caught and bowled.
With the run rate at about 7 an over for the last ten overs but with six wickets in hand the game was in the balance.
Wickets came and went but the run rate was maintained until the dramatic 33rd over.
With 25 required off of 18 balls Sinders, who had smashed a quick fire 30, was bowled first ball. Tinashe smashed a big six, so now only 19 runs off of 16 balls were required. But as another huge blow was despatched to deep mid-wicket and with the crowd expecting the umpire to raise his arms aloft a Dunmow fielder ran around and took a well-judged catch. Then more disaster Afran was run out on his first ball.
So with 17 required off of the last two overs but with the final pair at the crease the task became too much and Dunmow ran out a well-deserved winners by 12 runs in a fantastic game of cricket.
Special thanks also go to our third debutant Michael who in his first ever game of cricket did not look out of place.