The SFDWP team arrived early at Greenwood Park in high spirits, looking forward to their second encounter of the season after a spiritually uplifting tie in their opening match. As with all honed professional sportsmen the guys organized a practice warm up. As if to underpin the lad’s optimistic outlook it was a sunny, balmy evening, but was that an ominous black cloud threatening to spoil the mood – no it couldn’t be.
In keeping with Saddo tradition they lost the toss and took to the field.
Bowling
Captain Peter Cook tossed the ball to his strike bowler, Phil Spencer, who set about bowling aggressively, restricting the scoring. He was ably supported by Tim Winfield whose accuracy and deceptive pace kept both batsmen well rooted. One wicket fell, Tim supporting Phil spencer even further by taking a nice catch. The incumbent Killigrew batsmen weathered this spell by defending watchfully and skillfully. First bowling change saw Simon Wilson taking the ball; however, both batters had played themselves in and started to open their shoulders. Simon was joined by Philip ‘Pip’ Cowan, foregoing his usual wicket keeping position to turn his arm for the first time in the season, but only to suffer a similar fate, although unlucky not to capture a wicket. Howzat? Pip, who fielded well all day, took a great catch, low down off Simon, to dismiss a dangerous batter.
It was around about this time when those Saddos, who are young enough to remember further back than lent, started to recall the fate that befell them last year in this same fixture.
Pete Stauvers took the ball and somehow managed to bowl their third up, even though Stauvers couldn’t see a thing due to frazzled eyeballs from a very low sun. It did seem perverse that the wicket was aligned East to West offering little optical respite. Similarly, the ground sloped away on the Eastern side causing the ball to gather pace as it flew down the hill towards the football pitches inducing pulled muscles in the ‘finely honed’ bodies, of the pursuing Saddo fielders.
Richard Noden was called into the bowling action for his first overs of the season. The Killigrew batters were now chancing their luck by throwing their bats, but Richard soon found his line and length and superbly clipped the bails during his second over. Captain Cook brought Jonathan Hook into the attack. Jonathan carried on from last week with a mix of accuracy and fast paced Yorkers that kept even the potent Killigrew batting force at bay. Peter Cook bowled his usual deceptive flight but Killigrew, no mugs at the crease, were latching on to some, but then Peter’s spin bamboozled his man who was given out. Ian Holmes bowled well at the death supported by Tim Randall, again first game of the season, who manfully tried to stem the flow but these were trying times, with Killigrew riding their luck by not finding the edge but finding the gaps in the field instead. A notable mention goes to the returning wicket keeper David Reed who throw down the stumps for a run out, which was well deserved for David who had a faultless display behind the ‘sticks’. Killigrew 127 for seven.
Batting
Phil Spencer and Ian Holmes opened the batting and started well. Running them up with Ian hitting a sweet boundary, but then he was unlucky to ‘sky’ one which was taken. Tim Winfield hit some lusty blows, including a four, but a straight drive that was slightly high was well taken in the deep.
More consternation for the Saddos as they realized that Killigrew were well drilled in the bowling as well as in the batting department.
Phil Spencer was looking solid, keeping the scoreboard ticking over whilst Simon Wilson was looking typically stylish, Then disaster struck. Simon top edged a skier above their wicket keeper. Simon ran hopefully, the wicket keeper dropped it, but recovered his senses to run out Phil Spencer.
Tim Randall entered the fray and with a good eye, supported by Simon, started to nurdle away, at the pace of the Killigrew bowling, for ones and twos, but boundaries were needed. Simon and Tim started to open their shoulders for a flurry of boundaries, but alas, no weaknesses in the bowling attack, even down the order, resulted in Tim being bowled. This brought Richard Noden to the crease, he had no time or option but to run everything and was bravely run out. Pip came to the crease calling well for quick singles and he swept for a nice boundary, but the accuracy of the Killigrew bowling and lucky field placings meant a defeat for our brave lads, just 42 runs short. Acta est fabula plaudit.