Well, it was time for the last game of the regular season and it was the showdown between the top team and the All Ords who were sitting second. Provided the All Ords won the game and two of the three skins, we would finish top of the ladder and get the weeks rest in the first week of the finals. No-one expected to get the week's rest. We had our most inexperienced team playing, which comprised Captain, Smithy, Doc Watson, Serry Senior, Junior and Junior Junior. Captain won the toss and sent us in to bat.
Serry Senior and Serry Junior Junior opened the batting. First ball was a beautiful cut shot from Serry Senior that bounced off the net and into the keeper's gloves - not a good start. A run out off the last ball meant 2/-1 and panic a distinct possibility. The fact that Serry Junior Junior was deliberately blocked while trying to take the run added some spice. Serry Senior merely went up to the opposition fielder who had performed the misdeed and stated that "you can deliberately block a 14 year old, try blocking someone your own size like me and watch what happens" - luckily he didn't try and block Serry Senior, for Serry Senior's sake! This clearly revved up the All Ords batsmen as a superb last three overs followed, with 0/8, 0/12 and 0/10 (including a nice four from Serry Senior and very steady batting from Junior Junior) which meant a fine 29 run partnership (Serry Senior 16, Serry Junior Junior 13) and confidence high despite some good bowling.
Second pair were Captain and Serry Junior. A steady first couple of overs (1/3 and 1/4) was followed by a run out and a catch just short of a six and 2/0 with the All Ords struggling. Another 2 wickets for 4 runs (2 run outs) and the second pair had managed 11 runs (Captain 12, Serry Junior -1) with the confidence dropping but a reasonable 40 after 8 overs.
Smithy and Doc started well with 1/6 despite a run out. Our most steady pair then proceeded to prove themselves again despite facing some potent fast bowling by producing 0/9, 0/4 and 0/7, not losing a wicket in the last three overs to amass 26 runs (Smithy 12, Doc 14) and leave the All Ords on 66 against some consistently good bowling, giving them something to bowl at. Given it was against the top team, it would need a magnificent effort to defend.
Doc opened the bowling and was hit for 6 off the first ball - not a good start. The second ball was nicely fielded by Captain, who sadly missed a run out from 2 feet away from the stumps. At this stage, this reporter was suddenly expecting a 200 run loss. But Doc was up to the task, taking a spectacular caught and bowled off a thunderbolt and restricting the opposition to 1/9 despite the first ball six. Serry Junior came on and bowled very tightly taking a magnificent 2/0 with some superb run outs and the All Ords were on a high. Serry Senior came on and continued the rout with an exciting 4/-8, thanks to a stumping from Doc and some unbelievable fielding from Captain with some back flick throws that hit middle stump. Captain was suddenly not missing a thing and was on fire. He came on to bowl and kept it tight, unlucky not to get a wicket and finishing with 0/9 and the opposition had made only 9 for the first pair, the skin was ours and the game was surprisingly on in earnest.
In came the second pair, with their big hitter ready to explode. Serry Junior bowled tightly again restricting them to 0/10. Smithy came on next and ripped the game apart, taking a hat trick (his second for the season) and finishing the over to applause all round with 3/-7. Serry Junior Junior, despite being hit for a six, fielded the last ball that was rifled back to him beautifully, spun round and ran the opposition player out, thus taking 1/12. Smithy, on a high after his hat trick, boweled tightly again taking 0/8 and after two pairs, the opposition were on 32 (and had won the second skin). They needed 27 to win the last skin and 35 to win the match. It was going to be tight.
Doc Watson bowled first and very tightly, allowing only six runs without loss. Serry Senior struggled with his line and allowed 0/12. Serry Junior Junior applied the pressure, taking a fine 1/3 and the opposition needed 6 to win the skin and 14 to win the match but Captain, our fastest bowler was raring to go. He bowled beautifully taking 1/6 and the All Ords had beaten the top side in a magnificent effort, winning by 7 runs. The last skin was lost by one run meaning the top team and the All Ords had finished on the same number of points, the same number of wins and the same number of bonus points - the only thing separating them was a few percentage points. The All Ords finished second which was clearly above anyone's expectations and the finals would be on next week with the All Ords getting the double chance.
Bowling figures: Doc 1/15, Serry Junior 2/10, Serry Senior 4/4, Captain 1/14, Smithy 3/1, Serry Junior Junior 2/15
Official Man of the Match: Serry Senior
Highlight of the Match: a tie between Smithy's hat trick and Captain's cat-like fielding!
I know you all thought this would be the last report! Sadly, since the All Ords have made the finals and have the double chance, there will be at least two more reports for you to read!