Hatfield escape with a dull draw

After the low scoring events of the previous week, skipper Smiler was confidently viewing his "on paper" much stronger team warming up prior to the game. In the skip's ideal world, on a very damp Hatfield track, we would bowl first, restrict the oppo to an average score, and knock off the runs in short time.

This plan came crashing down as once again the call of "heads" from Smiler proved unsuccessful, and we were inserted.

Andy Vernon (V), returning from his role as one of Ken's diddy men the previous week, strapped on the pads and opened up with yours truly.

The outfield was long and slow, but we managed to keep the score moving along at just over 4 per over. Hatfield aided us with a few wides and no-balls as well as some fairly static fielding.

I did manage to over estimate both how static the Hatfield fielders and also the backing up of my partner was at one stage. V was left high and dry, but luckily Hatfield's keeper knocked the stumps down before he caught the ball!

V eventually fell for 21, lobbing the ball back to the "slow" bowler Cummings.

One over later, with the score still on 82, I followed suit, deflecting the ball off my pads onto the stumps. The gratitude I received for my hard fought 46 was along the lines of "just saving yourself a jug!"

Jani joined Smiler, who had already ridden his luck, the hapless Hatfield keeper missing a sitter from his first ball.

Jani didn't last long forgetting to run his bat in, he found himself run out for 1.

Enter Mike McGowan our high scoring bat from last season. He and the skip moved the score along steadily to 112 before Mike uncharacteristically lobbed a full toss to mid-on.

Smiler eventually missed one that kept a bit low and departed for 24. Meanwhile the man who despite being 20 didn't manage to keep our average age under 40, Luke Vassay, played a classy little cameo of 12.

Smiler had a target of 165. Steve Golding missed a full toss to get himself bowled for 5 but Mark Naisbitt was ready to rise to the challenge of delivering the skipper's dream.

He struck two magnificent sixes in his 23 n.o., the second of which bounced off the roof of the pavilion into the car park. It was his first six however which will stick in the memories of the Sundowners.

Mark unleashed his favourite pull shot towards the gallery of startled watching team mates. They to a man scattered (like the true cricketers they are), except for Mike McGowan who was dutifully scoring. Mike downed his pen and stood up to catch the ball. The force of the shot knocked him back into his chair, which under the pressure of a winters grazing promptly collapsed. Needless to say the ball was grounded as were most of his colleagues with fits of laughter.

Smiler called time on the proceedings and declared our innings on 167 for 7.

After a glorious tea, which dare I say was good enough to rival the home teas supplied by Pat, we heaved our bodies laden with sarnies, chicken and cakes onto the outfield to defend our total.

The Hatfield innings turned out to be one of those innings which cause so called sports fans (premiership football usually) to call the beautiful game boring. In this instance they would be justified.

Dave "Cat" Cattell bowled Faulkner in his first over. Dom Pilgrim knocked over Jacob's middle stump shortly afterwards. Cat collared Collier to leave Hatfield on 16 for 3, V making a regulation catch look like superman catching a bullet.

The talented Moran along with the spirited Eames started to repair the damage. One particular drive from Moran flashed passed Mark's ear at silly mid-off which had it hit would surely have deprived him of his imminent fatherhood.

The momentum of Hatfield's innings collapsed with Eames retiring hurt with a torn muscle and Luke Vassey's cunningly flighted leg spin causing Moran to give yours truly his opening catch of the season.

We had a couple of other chances, the most notable being that to batting hero Mark. Unfortunately he couldn't decide whether it was fingers up or down before he made his attempt at the catch. Result spilled leather.

15 overs later and Hatfield had batted out, despite our ring of fielders around the bat, finishing on 100 for 5. Even Andy V showed us his bowling talents (?) to no avail.

We retired to the bar to contemplate the toss. Should Smiler change his call or does he persevere with heads?

The Winners:
Yours truly,46.
Mark Naisbitt, 23 n.o

The Losers:
Mike McGowan's chair
Anyone watching Hatfield's innings

Tune in next week to re-live the encounters of Sundown Specials v Wembley.