And so to the big match of the season. The banter had been building for weeks. All eyes were on the weather reports and the good news was it was set fine for the actual day. 

In fact, earlier in the day I had seen dozens of plastic dolls lining up behind one another - and so it was definitely Barbie queue weather!
 
There was no toss – the older team insisting on fielding as was our right. Each player would bowl 2 overs and batsmen would “retire” on 25.
 
Johnny and Joe S opened and it was clear from the off that the “olds” were going to give a better account of themselves compared to last year. 

Joe fell to Richard Checkley bringing Jake to the crease. The on field chat
increased as the two started to slowly build a score. Jake went for 11 and two
quick wickets followed. One of these was when Greg fell to a phenomenal catch at first slip by Jerry Butler, taken high under his throat with both feet off the
ground. As Captain Grimmers pointed out – one Jerry will be telling his
grandchildren about in years to come. Not sure how talk of grandchildren went
down though.

Johnny had amassed his 25 and in came Zac to join Matty. Runs started to build as they tried to increase the pace. Matty fell for 17 to another catch by “Bucket Hands” Butler. 

Zac retired on 25 – having had, at one point, 5 fielders on the leg side boundary in anticipation. He had just batted with his brother Joe who had hit 6 before been stumped by his old man on the last ball of the innings. Sorry son.
 
I am not sure, newly named, James “Magnet” Stevenson totally enjoyed being chased round the park by the ball. 
  
The youngsters reached a total of 115-8 off their 20.

Bowlers
Richard Checkley 1-14
Andrew Smith 0-9
Richie Bowles 1-5
Ted Behl 1-4
Derek Sprawson 1-13
Nadeem Jan 0-12
Jerry Butler 0-13
Richard Stevenson 0-13
Sam Grimley 1-12
Stuart Grimley 1-12

Wicket keeper Andy Ashworth

I was tired from just getting changed for the match let alone keeping for only the second time ever, so I was “delighted” to be asked to open the batting. Get it over with, I thought, and that cold lager would be tasted sooner rather than later. I did manage to get bat on ball and I was so surprised I spent a minute watching it head to the boundary. However it never made it and so with my
speed between the wickets I managed to turn a 3 into a single.

The good news for the team was that I was out soon after so that others could build our reply. The over 15s had decided to retire on 10 to give everyone a knock. 

The bowling was sound and wickets did start falling. One highlight being a fast, low, direct hit by Zac from two thirds out which took care of Nadeem’s wicket.
 
Andrew Smith was also caught off the bowling of his son Ben. These are the stats that make these games such fun.

Our retired batsmen came back in with Richard Stevenson getting 20 and Richard Checkley 13. 
 
It came down to this. Stuart and Sam Grimley in together at the end. One ball to go with two runs to win. They ran with the ball through to keeper Matty Bowles. He ran Stuart out. Wide was called. Match tied. What a game. Was it a wide? Yes. It was signalled wide. It’s in the book as a wide and now in the report as a wide. Match TIED!  

Stuart made 13 while Sam was 25 not out.

Well done all!

Bowlers
Zac Ashworth 1-3
Greg Behl 1-13
Ben Smith 1-13
Alex Jan 0-11
James Stevenson 0-12
Eliot Checkley 1-6
Joe Stutchbury 1-9
Johnny Butler 0-17
Joe Ashworth 0-11
Jake Saleh 1-13 

Wicket keeper Matty Bowles
 
A great game played in perfect conditions with lots of laughter from players and spectators alike.
 
Plenty of chat in the pavilion afterwards, including an apology from Zac to Andrew Smith for a very smart looking bruise near his knee.
 
Thanks to all the players. 
Thanks to Jane Butler for the BBQ. 
Thanks to Mark B and James J for umpiring.
And thanks to all the spectators for their support.

I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.