Finals time had arrived for the All Ords and along with it had come the nerves. We were to play Mr Mankad, who had played and beaten us twice during the regular season so the prospects were looking dim. The All Ords comprised Captain Hanlon, Smithy, Pinman, Pretty Boy, Serry Senior and Serry Junior. Guest tosser Pinman won the toss and we decided to bat first.
The usual opening pair, the Serrys entered the arena full of hope. A run out of the first ball set the scene. A catch off Serry Junior and 2/-2 was not a great start. It seemed everytime the Serrys hit the ball, it went straight into the hands of the opposition fieldsmen who seemed unable to miss the stumps. A second over with two more run outs and 2/-3 and the All Ords were in terrible trouble (as was Serry Senior, with his wife and master giving him the stare for the way he was "advising" Serry Junior on his calling). The third over produced a better 1/8 ( a run out again but a nice four from Serry Senior) but sadly the final over produced 2/0 with another run out and catch and the Serrys had put on only 3 for the first partnership (Serry Senior 13, Serry Junior -10) and were looking in diabolical trouble.
A new pairing of Smithy and Pretty Boy entered to high expectations. The first over produced a steady 0/5, all in singles. The next over another six for the loss of one wicket (Pretty Boy caught down back going for the big hit). A fine third over of 0/8 and the All Ords were fighting back. A superb fighting last over of 0/12 and the pair had steadied a fast sinking ship with a fine 31 (Pretty Boy 12, Smithy 19), taking the All Ords to 34. This new pairing had done a magnificent job under intense finals pressure and whilst not where we wanted to be, at least we had something on the board.
The last pair of Captain and Pinman seemed (sadly) to take their lead from the Serrys rather than the second pair, with two run outs in the first over and 2/0. But as they have been doing all season, they fought back with a fine 0/9 off the second. The third was even better with 13 runs again without loss and the pair were pushing the opposition around without taking too many risks. The last over wasnt as productive, with Pinman bowled and only two runs scored due to some good bowling. The third pair had put on a good 24 runs (Pinman 10, Captian 14) and the All Ords had made a disappointing 58, a score they would struggle to defend even bowling at their best. It must be said that the opposition didnt have a poor bowler but the All Ords had certainly set themselves a challenge!
So the All Ords had to get off to a very good start in the bowling or the game would be over early. Serry Junior came on first and with a run out and a blistering one handed caught and bowled from a ball heading straight for the back fence, had finished with 2/-1 and just the start the All Ords wanted. Pinman was next and bowled very tightly, have one batsman stumped in a great effort from Pretty Boy and an over costing only 1/4. Smithy bowled well without luck, with the opposition looking to consolidate by batting more carefully and making 0/10. Pretty Boy then finished bowling to the first pair, bowling with fiery pace and restricting the opposition to 1/2 and a first pair total of only 15. The problem was the opposition still only needed 44 from the last two pairs, a very gettable score.
Serry Senior opened to the second pair, and despite being hit for one six, finished with a respectable 1/9, thanks to another fine stumping from Pretty Boy, At the end of the over, the opposition captain called Serry Senior over and told him the All Ords wicket keeper was banned. When Serry Senior had asked him why, he stated "because he is too good!". Smithy then came on and bowled tightly again taking 1/7. What is amusing is that Smithy had no idea he had taken the wicket, a fine 4 bites of the cherry catch by Pinman behind the stumps. Captain and his express pace was next and he bowled beautifully, taking one wicket (another great stumping by Pretty Boy) but more importantly restricting the opposition to only one run. Serry Senior came on for the last over to this pair and despite two dropped catches off the first two balls, bowled tightly taking 1/4 and the second pair had put on only 21 and in a night were the bowlers were dominating, the opposition were on 36 but still only needed only 23 to win.
Serry Junior was next and proceeded to show why he had done so well in his first over, again taking 2 wickets for just 5 runs (a clean bowled and another fine stumping from Pretty Boy). The enemy needed 18 to win off three. Pinman came on and despite one four, kept them to 1/6 including a beautiful caught behind by Pretty Boy (who in an attempt to beat Pinman's catch behind the stumps, actually juggled the ball 5 times!). 12 runs to win off two overs. Our strike bowler, Captain was next and with his express pace, is always difficult to score off. This over was no exception and fine bowling saw only 1/3 including a superb clean bowled.
One over left.
9 runs to win.
Pretty Boy to bowl his pace.
A first ball clean bowled made us start to think we might actually have a chance. Two catches in the next three balls and we thought we might be in, one of the catches a tremendous one-handed jumping catch on the back fence by Captain, turning a potential match winning seven into a match saving -3. Pretty Boy was bowling the over of his life and the All Ords were on fire. A magnificent final over of 3/-8 and the All Ords had done it. Serry Senior was seen paying out all the bets he had made, due to his statement that the All Ords had no hope after making only 58!!!!!
It was an amazing effort to win by 16 runs given the 58 total they had set, and most of the crowd sat there thinking management must have been pumping hallucinogens into the stadium because what they had seen really could not have happened in reality.
Roll on next week and a final against the top side. The All Ords would need to improve. The best summary of the game came from Smithy who said "our batting was all ordinary, our fielding was all ordinary, and yet we won the game - how did that happen - in fact, did that happen???"
Bowling figures: Serry Junior 4/4, Pinman 2/10, Smithy 1/17, Pretty Boy 4/-6, Serry Senior 2/13, Captain 2/4
Official man of the match: Pretty Boy Webster with his superb last over and multiple stumpings
Crowd figure : 2