What a day! The kind of game that doesn’t come around too often, it was an absolute pleasure to be a part of.
Nob won the toss (this is not a typo), for the second time this season and asked the confident home side to bat. The All-Stars had plenty of bowling options available to them today, and as quite often is the case, it was Matt McDonald who made the early breakthroughs, dismissing both openers which brought Patel to the crease early. He and Greenfield rebuilt against some good, but unrewarded, bowling from Baron and George Davis, however these two would have the last laugh (more on this later!). Jonny Hewer bowled the most accurate spell I have seen him bowl this season, leaking only 17 runs in his 10 overs, and as is often the way his worst ball was slapped to Matt at cow corner to account for Patel who is Rankins best bat. Ben Strokes got his first 2’s wicket and Olly got 3 as the Rankins innings never really got going and they finished on 194/8.
Teas were ok. Had better, had worse. 7
Now on to the good bit. It’s not often I am nervous from the start of an innings but today I was pacing from the off. Strokesy and John did the nerves no favours with equally rash shots and both were bowled within the first 2 overs, meaning Foxy and Snail were at the crease earlier than we would like. Both were looking in great touch, Snail defending resolutely but still putting the bad ball away and Foxy took a look at the bowling, for about 6 balls, before dancing down the wicket and dispatching the opener for 3 fours in an over. Rankins decided to take pace off the ball with Patel and Nanda and that brought about first wicket, Fox trapped in front for 25. Rob Foxall joined Snail and played some nice shots in his first knock of the year before Snail was run out going for 2. At this point we were 56/4 with our two best batsmen back in the hutch. Ominous. Rob Fox, Matt and Jonny all made small but valuable contributions and were dismissed looking to play shots and after 25 overs, we were 95/7 with Nob and Baron at the crease. Hope was high, but expectations were low. Two contrasting innings were to follow, a terribly out of form Nob nudged, nurdled and edged his runs whereas Baron was far more aggressive but not without caution. He left and blocked where necessary and dispatched bad balls to the boundary including 2 massive sixes, but is innings was the type that we don’t see often from George. He was patient, turned 1’s in to 2’s and 2’s into 3’s and before long the partnership was worth 85 of which George had 50. Queue the drama!
With just 17 to win from 7 overs, Nob stupidly tried to turn another 1 into a 2 and ran himself out by a long, long way and we had gone from being in complete control to teetering on the edge. Kendall joined George, but Rankins had their tails up and the bowlers were steaming in. 8 to win, Kendall struck on the pad and up goes the finger. It was so plumb even Olly said it was out. So the All-Stars, battling relegation and furnished with the news that Great Waltham has beaten East Hanningfield, were staring down the barrel of what would be a crippling defeat. Enter George Davis. His child size pads strapped so tight there cannot have been any circulation in his legs, his nose full of snot and his bat no thicker than the daily mail. He bounced to the wicket with words of wisdom from his team mates in his ear. “Play straight”, “There’s no rush”, “Don’t do anything stupid” were amongst some of them. Did he listen? Did he f@&k. He gave himself room and swung at his first ball, getting enough bat on it to sneak a single and keep the strike for first ball of the next over. 7 to win. First ball of the next over he gives himself room and gets bat on ball, chipping it between mid-off and cover, runs 2. Hearts in mouths. 5 to win. The next ball is down the leg side so George’s shot doesn't work to that, dot ball. Next ball he steps away and smashes it over mid wicket and they run 3. Two to win! The team are on their feet cheering every run and amazed and what we are witnessing. Baron, who showed blind faith in his partner from the start is happy to take a single, leaving just one to win. “There’s no rush, three overs left to score the single we need, it’s the last ball of the over, let Baron do it”. No chance. The 15 year old with kajones the size of beach balls casually swung the willow again, smashing the ball over the bowlers head in the gap to win the game! Did it go for four? Who cares? We won!
An absolutely brilliant finish to a hard fought game. Contributions all round but the most pleasing thing was despite relative ‘failures’ from the usual contributors with the bat, others stepped up, took responsibility, and got us home.
Star Man - George Baron. Despite George Davis stealing the show at the end, Baron’s knock (to make up for his bowling) was superb and the difference between the sides. Hero!
