Slaughter at Sandridge

What can be better on a glorious June evening than to play a friendly gentlemen's cricket match at very well kept cricket pitch in a village setting. The match soon proved that there were many things SFDWP would probably rather been doing, after getting thoroughly beaten by a strong STAGS team.

Phil Spencer had the honours to captain and Saddos took the field (9 plus 2 STAGS subs), excited about skittling through some wickets after recent solid performances. Winfield and Stauvers opened the bowling and the signs were ominous after the first delivery. A returned field from Button to Winfield at the bowlers end, skidded though and whacked his shin - this would not be the last of dodgy Saddos fielding this night.

The STAGS batsmen were quickly in their stride with several boundaries racing over the hard dry surface. The lack of agility in the Saddos fielding (generally bending over) was being stretched and STAGS raced to 30 off the first 4 overs and thereafter the preferred method to stop a 4 seemed to be use the feet (Button size 13s a fine example).

Noden and Wilson were the first bowling change, with Noden tight off his medium pacers, reverting to this after his trial period as a leg spinner (there is a Warne in there somewhere!).

Wilson bowling secured the first of only 3 wickets to fall for STAGS, as he tempted the batsmen, who skied the ball high into the deep leg for Winfield to comfortably hold. The anticipation of a flurry of wickets soon passed as four of the STAGS batsmen retired not out 25, after some brutal and cultured hitting. It has to be said that this was the worst of the Saddos fielding with everyone missing stops for 4 or catches and easily led to an extra 30 runs for STAGS.

Holmes and Button arrived late, thanks to the M25 traffic and Holmes was impressed to see that Saddos had STAGS on the ropes at 72-9, but on closer inspection of the scoreboard this was actually 72-1 off 9 overs! Button, Barton, Hook, Cook, Spencer & Holmes all bowled admirably, but only 2 further wickets were to fall and STAGS finished on 164 for 3 off the 20 overs.

With Holmes and Cook to open the batting, a rate of just over 8 per over was required and not out of the bounds of the Saddos abilities. The STAGS bowling was tight and they only conceded 8 off the first 3 overs, so there would have to be a big acceleration in runs. Cook and Holmes soon started to find their timing and 4s finally started to come, only for Cook to play a nice shot and then step back onto his stumps.

Wilson and Hook joined Holmes and were soon trudging back off the field after falling to tight bowling. With the score at 37-3, the scene was set for a glorious middle order onslaught as Noden stepped to the crease. Some singles and quick running and Noden was in his stride - hitting the ball well, but not completely timed to make 4s. The Saddos from the boundary were hoping to see "Richard the Biff" from the nets and for a short while it looked possible, until Jukes cleaned bowled him.

Button and Spencer looked to continue this aggression and soon rattled the score along with a series of thumping 4s and 6s and it looked like Saddos might get some revenge in the field. However the STAGS fielding was very sharp and they stopped a number of shots from reaching the boundary and when Button was caught and Spencer stumped it looked very ominous at 79-7.

Would the Saddos tail wag or would it be a limp finale? When Barton creamed an off drive for 4, all things looked possible and then it was all over as Stauvers, Winfield and Cowen all fell in quick succession for 3 runs and Saddos limped to the end of this miserable night, all out for 101 - a mere 64 runs short!

Like all sports professionals a full post mortem was held in the local pub and the clear conclusion was that STAGS played a much better game throughout and deserved to win. However Saddos can take some positives from this defeat; a year ago Saddos would have been happy to make 100 runs, how we have improved.....