The losers semi final was a chance to finish the season on a high with a win against Gardenfields.

Gardenfields won the toss and chose to bat as we were two short Longbottom Junior and Junior Junior were deployed in the field. Late rules changes required us to only bowl 16 overs so that meant the lesser bowlers only had to bowl one over. The other surprise was that we were on the astroturf pitch which meant there was a consistent if slightly high bounce.

The obvious choice to open the bowling was therefore the pace and bounce of Sean whose two overs only went for 7 and he picked off a wicket as he found the edge of the bat and it was well caught by Pip who had won the who is the worst bowler competition to be the wicket keeper (much to my disgust as I have really tried to be the best worst bowler in Saddos). At the other end Mr Bond was asked to provide one over of brilliance and duly provided his best with only 5 off the over and a run out. 3 overs and the oppo wobbling at 13-2. We were also joined by Winfield Junior and Harsha and so the little Longbottoms were thanked for their SADs debut - first girl to play for SFDWP?

Mr Curtis next to get through an over and was slightly unlucky to go for 13, an expensive over one might think but relative to what was to come this was a tight over!

Winfield Junior was next up to bowl having been drafted in as a late replacement for WG. His two overs were a bit too good for the opposition only going for three runs and scaring one of the batsman into retreating into his own wicket. While proper bowling was going on at the other end I decided to get my over out of the way but the umpire was not having my metal studs on his astro turf wicket. So off came the shoes and I bowled in my socks - it couldn't be any worse. Indeed this was true as my best over of bowling ever with 2 wickets for only 7 runs. Shoes back on I decided that I would not chance a second over and so after 7 overs 36 for 5 we were looking good especially as myself Bond and Curtis had got through our single overs.

Gary entered the attack and continued the theme as his two overs only went for 7 runs. Marcus at the other end hot off a great bowling performance on Monday was duly expected to be as economic but something went badly wrong as his two overs went (and boy did they go) for 34 runs, the last four balls being 20 of them. It has to be said the batsman he was bowling to was very good and had just got his eye in before clouting everything bowled at him out of the ground. Suddenly after 11 overs it was 79 for 5.

The bowling was finished off by 2 overs from Harsha 15-0 but included a run out as the batsman failed to ground his bat and Jan who struggling to walk was coming off one pace and went for 20 runs. Paul had the final over and while picking up a wicket with a lovely straight ball he went for 10 runs as the oppo took liberties with some big hitting. 16 overs completed and a target to chase of 125, just shy of 8 runs an over it seemed to be a larger total than we should have been chasing based on the half way mark.

Opening the SADs innings was Jan who could barely walk and Harsha who was looking to go for lots of quick singles. Jan though set his intentions out by spanking the ball to the boundary to cut out any need for running. Jan back in his seat in 4 overs with 30 to his name. Harsha didn't like batting without Jan so chipped the ball to square leg to end his innings and return to Jan's side on the boundary with 5 runs to his name. Mr Bond felt that he needed to follow Jan by hitting the ball hard but was sadly caught and so actually followed Jan (and Harsha) in quick time back to the sidelines without scoring.

Paul making his first appearance of the season was therefore at the crease with me at 46 for 2 off the first 5 overs and we forged a partnership that took us to 90 runs off 10 overs and I retired on 31. So 36 runs off 36 balls, game on! Paul as the senior batsman was well placed to keep the scoreboard ticking over but Shaun was more intent on trying to hit the skin off the ball but struggled to make contact as the bowler was quick and bouncing the ball through around shoulder height. Still two overs later 24 runs off 24 balls we were in serious contention.

I should know better but as skipper you want to guide the team to victory but this is SFDWP and we don't deal in tight victories we do snatching defeat from the jaws of victory! So lets skip to the last over including the loss of Shaun, Marcus and Paul to find Mr Curtis needing 19 off 6 balls and us losing by 9 runs. Hey ho, Chris did great getting 10 runs off the last over but 19 was always going to be a tough ask.

So the inaugural big bash tournament saw SFDWP play two lose two but I think we brought fun and laughter to the tournament especially laughing at ourselves. We played in the spirit of the club putting participation ahead of competition and I could not be a prouder skipper leading us to defeat!