Let's step back for a minute. This long hard season has brought out the best of the Dads but has also been physically demanding, with most of them queuing up for the treatment room, (does anyone know where the treatment room actually is?) so once again there was a mad scramble for players.
This fixture welcomed Killigrew to our unplayable pitch, where rabbit holes and the slope have to be negotiated. Add to that the intermittent downpours and we were all set. The Dads took to the field, with their usual unfounded optimism and opened the bowling with 'Pace Man' Phil Spencer. Hitting his straps from the off, he bowled a wicket maiden, knocking over their opener with his 5th ball.
Then the usual pattern repeated itself with Dad bowlers loosening up with their first over before finding line and length with their second. Captain Peter Cook thoughtfully flattened his deliveries in his second over, continually drying the ball to get it to bite. Then Simon Wilson, with his trade mark skidders and rhythmic action deservedly claimed a 'clean bowled' off the first ball of his second over, removing an ominous looking batsman. Next up, Roger Barton, the thinking man's cricketer, sent down a mix of reverse swing and tactical wides, infuriating the Killigrew Captain.
Make no mistake, the Killigrew top order are formidable, but Ian 'Boots & Blisters' Holmes found a good line to stem the flow with a maiden over. Then 'Fingers' Stauvers adjusted to the slope to bowl a good second over.
After 10 overs Killigrew had scored 91 runs. The Dads needed a talisman. Then their prayers were answered as Jonathan Hook hove into view. Killigrew scored only 40 off the next 10 overs, the result of Jonathan's presence, accurate slow bowling and a steady fall of wickets.
Richard Noden took a good catch off Ian's last ball. Then Mike 'I haven't played for years' Wallis bowled his accurate spin resulting in a thick edge taken smartly by Fingers.
Colin 'pass out from the wife' McKinnon bowled with deceptive flight to further bog down the batters. Next up Peter Church with his hard deck hitters, bowled his man off the third ball, going on to mercilessly deliver chin music then grudgingly apologising for it, unlucky not to get more wickets. Richard Noden then bowled a spell of 'back of the hand' wrist spinners which bamboozled the batters as well as the fielders except for Mike Wallis, whose pick up and throw in one motion, to a cool Pip Cowan behind the sticks, gained a valuable run out.
Killigrew 131, so 132 to win @ 6.5 an over.
Phil and Pip opened the batting. There was good stroke play from both off some very pacy bowling, with Phil hitting three straight fours while Pip clunked numerous balls square of the wicket. Sharp running, by the two, put the fielders under pressure before Phil was bowled. Peter Church entered the fray with a nice sweep for four. While we waited for one of his trade mark sixes he was unexpectedly bowled off a snorter. Pip fell LBW, admitting it was plum. In came Simon with some stylish nudging for a number of twos before falling to one that stayed low. Ian was bowled, during a spell of hot bowling.
Peter Cook continued with classy nurdling, waiting to trounce the bad balls which resulted in a fine straight six. Joined my Mike Wallis, who hit a straight four, they didn't look in any trouble, running singles at every opportunity, including off the arms of the fielders. Captain Cook, knowing that an unlikely victory was in sight, fell heaving for a boundary. But there was still a chance, boosted by Richard hitting three twos in succession and continuing the break neck running with Mike.
9 was required off the last 3 balls.
8 was needed off 2.
7 needed off 1, or 6 to tie. Richard shaped to dance down the wicket but stayed back. Cannily the bowler sent down a yorker which Richard could only smash along the ground.
A loss yes, but at this rate of improvement the Saddos will be entering the 20:20 World Cup in 2018.