Following a rain abandoned game the previous day the Fishers became Sad's opening match of the season. Having won the toss and put Fishers into bat we took to the field to see what total we would need to chase.

Opening the bowling Diprose and Winfield set about their task of line length like a couple of old pros, Jan 1-1 and Winfield even better 0-1. A remarkable start taking two Fisher wickets for only one run!

Curtis and Roberts had the tough challenge of following up those tight overs and a mixture of good bowling and Fishers on the defensive meant they too had tidy figures. Curtis only going for 6 runs off his two overs and Robbo bowling his slow pie selection managed a lovely wicket from the batsman trying the same shot twice the first dropping short of Busted but on his second go finding his hands perfectly! #catchingpracticeshot. Robbo finished 4-1 and scoffed at the ridiculous nature that crappy bowling gets rewards while returning to the outfield - well the stats don't lie do they!

It was at this point there were a few murmurs around the fielding team that this was not Fishers but some imposter team as there was no sign of a Saffer with a baby's bat nor were they setting any kind of total - after 8 overs they only had 11 plus had lost 3 wickets!

Time for Jones and Williams to enter the fray and unfortunately they walked into Fishers better batting. Jones kept them guessing and bar one mighty heave for six kept reasonable figures of only going for 12. Mr Williams had a slightly shorter leg boundary to work with and this showed in his analysis getting plundered for 17 runs mainly to cow corner off some good bowling that sadly just got clobbered.

Enter Pointer and new boy David Clamp or as Fishers named him Clatt! Mr Pointer was given a defensive field to lure the batsmen into risking being caught on the boundary and the plan nearly worked as Fishers failed to breach the perimeter on all but two occasions as Tim kept a good line and his second over was very good with only 7 from it finishing 18-0. Clatty didn't really fess up to being a batsman or a bowler in the pre-game introductions and after a couple of balls the captain decided he would open the batting as this would obviously be his stronger suit... this however proved incorrect as although 9 runs were given off the first over David had found his bowling mojo and in the second over provided a wicket maiden (9-1).

Final 4 overs and barely 70 on the scoreboard, Fishers had to go hard with wickets in hand and a couple of retirees waiting get back on the pitch. Enter Bob (Bondy) and Busted to finish them off or possibly get smashed around the park. Bob and Busted bowled good first overs limiting the scoring to only 6 runs, Bob then followed up with another very tidy over only going for one boundary and a single, 9 runs conceded off two overs in the last overs of the match was impressive. Busted not to be outdone also kept it tight and got a wicket on the last ball with Tim "Winners" Winfield taking a dolly to end the innings (10-1).

So at half time 91/5 off their 20 overs did not seem like a tough target but with the light rapidly fading and Sad's known for their ability to grab defeat from the jaws of victory anything was possible.


Diprose and Clamp were sent in to open the innings, Jan was practicing several forward defensives prior to his innings, holding the pose for the cameras before resetting and testing his back foot straight bat defensive variations, you just never know if the national selectors might be watching! Anyway this defensive masterclass to thin air was completely pointless as Jan tucked in to some early pies served up by Fishers premium opening bowling attack. Indeed more time was spent in the hedge retrieving the ball than bowling them. Mr Clamp played himself in at the other end with some careful batting knowing the run rate was well and truly under control. Fisher's Matt must have been slightly aghast that his second over once again found Jan facing and three fours later looked like he was facing a six ball boundary over and Jan retiring at the end of the third over but alas Jan scuffed the fourth ball and only got a single, Matt hugely relieved, Jan livid with himself! 4 overs gone and 26 runs already knocked off, at this point only bad light could save Fishers!

Mr Clamp tried to increase his strike rate and after several swishes was found out by a straight ball and returned having got 3 runs on debut and a wicket from his bowling, big smile on face and a great addition to our ranks. Robbo who doesn't smile and having had a cheeky mid innings pint staggered off to the middle to basically get this shit show finished so he could have more beer! A man of his word, he dealt in boundaries, as did Jan and this match was all but over. Bottom then replaced Jan who retired on 25, Mark already in double figures and 60 runs already amassed in short order. Bottom had seen the pies for starters and was impressed that Fishers had bigger pies for the main course, god knows what dessert pies they would have served! Boundaries were plundered with ease, Robbo missed an enormous pie and should have been stumped if not for the fact the ball was so slow he was able to walk back inside his crease before the ball could reach the wicket keeper. Lesson learnt Robbo dispatched the next assorted pastry covered meat into the undergrowth and retired on a mighty 31, thirsty work! Longbottom on 23 was joined by Corporal jones to finish off the match. With 4 to win and Corpral Jones to face. The next ball was tossed up, slap of bat on ball, dispatched to cow corner, 4! Game over, Jones hitting the winning runs, fist pumps, woops of joy, a little jig, a moment of sheer ecstasy - all enacted by Jonesy as the rest of the players left the pitch.



92 runs knocked off in 11.1 overs for the loss of only one wicket (David Clamp hang your head in shame)! Great to beat Fishers but this was not a Fishers side that had much to offer and nowhere near the standard that usually has had the ability to humiliate us over the years. But we won, we played well, it was the first match of the season and we all got to play a part, though obviously many did not get to bat but that was Fishers fault for not getting enough runs! Well done Sads winning streak of 1, more wins than losses, Jan, Robbo, Bottom and Jones all have runs and no average... yet! The bowling was very good and we really put bodies on the line in the field (even if we didn't always mean to)! Thanks to Williams/Robbo for providing refreshments.