Action Cricket Chronicles - fit the 6th

In a dramatic break with tradition, a scant 2 days rest was allowed before the team was called once more into the breach. And it was a stupid time to play, 10 at night is ridiculous. To top it off, the team was faced with table topping competition. Slaughter was on the cards.

Unsure of conditions, and full of fight, we took to the field first. Unsure, not only of conditions, but of the substitute player, one Ken by name. It was clear a herculean effort would be required. JC stood at the peak of his run up. The tension was thick. When the first ball was smote for a massive 4, the weak among you would have curled up and wept in fear of the beating that would surely follow. Not JC. Not this team. His second ball snuck through the defenses and cleaned the stumps up. The fielding turned electric, with only singles coming from the flashing blades of the opposition. And when Ruaan replicated the first over, by smashing the stumps down in the second – the team started to believe. That belief was well rewarded by a stunning catch in the third (bowled by Kevin), a beautiful piece of fielding bringing a run out in the fourth (Wayne’s first over); and to cap it off – the final ball of the first pair was caught superbly to send the opposition reeling out with just 15 on the board.

The second pair wobbled in, the surely unfamiliar figures of 15 flashing above them … Ross stood there, mean, glaring. And although no wickets fell during that first fiery over, only 6 runs resulted. Wayne took up the ball eagerly, hoping to replicate his first over, and placate the hounds baying for blood … He was so eager, he overstepped on the first, but more than made up for it when a low chance was taken brilliantly with the third. Just to mess with the minds of our opponents, after the pint sized menace that is robo-bowler, the giant Kevin scared the batters stupid forcing a runout from his fourth delivery and finishing the over with two dots to set up a thrilling final over for the pair. Colin bowled it, and the wickets tumbled, with an excellent catch off the second, and a runout off the penultimate ball. Two pairs down, and only 35 on the board.

The Bun started the third pair off, and forced another runout with the penultimate ball of his first over. Ross then brought it back spectacularly, with two wickets including a stumping off the final ball. Attila finished off his allotted overs with a catch off his second ball, before having the spell spoiled by a phenomenal smashed straight six off his final delivery. Colin then took up the attack, and despite gifting a few runs, managed to entice a catch to send the pair back with 38 to their names, and the opponents still shy of the hundred mark.

The final two walked in to face their fate, and the unknown element. Ken did alright starting us off, with no wickets, but a tidy line conceding just 7. JC then stormed in, and managed to induce two catches in two deliveries just before the end of the over. His hat-trick was denied unfortunately. Ruaan then took ball in hand and was immediately smashed straight down the ground for a sensational six. He brought it back manfully, and ended up only conceding 12 from the over. The final over fell to the unknown Ken, and he complied by gifting the opponents 4 extras, before managing a single wicket to save some value from the over. And that was it – a mere 106 on the board.

Alas, The heroics on the field did not help a tired team find the mettle to withstand an excellent attack. With a runout first ball, and a catch off the second, the scene was set. Ross and Attila attempted to up the tempo, but were beaten twice while advancing down and the opposing wicky was too good to miss out. Nevertheless, 10 runs from the first pair was healthy, and well in line with the 15 the opponents made, just not quite enough.

Colin and Wayne took up the mantle shortly afterwards, and despite a valiant effort, managed to add very little, advancing the score by a mere 7. Mostly due to Wayne having his circuits slightly frazzled, and being stumped 4 times. The final two balls of their partnership were also dots, just to rub in the pain.

Kevin, and Ken, took up their weapons and set about rebuilding the innings. Wickets tumbled in regular succession from the one end, whilst runs trickled off Kevin’s bat; and the game was pretty much up. JC and Ruaan walked in needing 73 runs to tie, that was simply a bridge too far. The two resurrected their partnership, and added 33 flawless runs, but ultimately, the challenge was just out of reach.

What a performance from the team though. Brilliant fielding, and superb bowling was let down by some ordinary batsmanship. Now, if only we could get the two elements to gel …