After two straight wins and with confidence high the Saddos went into this match optimistic for a good result. Sometimes though you just have to hold your hands up and say that the best (and most competitive) side on the day won.

The format was agreed as 40/40 with bowlers able to bowl a maximum of 8 overs each. In hot sunny conditions on a parched dry pitch Fishers went into bat to face the SFDWP opening bowling partnership of Phil Spencer and Tim Winfield. As usual, both bowlers delivered tight, hostile spells restricting the Fishers openers to only three per over off the first ten whilst the fielding remained as disciplined as in the previous matches. Despite this the batsmen offered no opportunities for the close-in field to pick them off and they continued to look solid moving to the first change of bowling.

Captain Peter Cook rang the changes and Richard Noden and Mike Wallis took up the challenge. Noden scattered the stumps at one end to break the partnership but the momentum remained with Fishers as they continued to build a good score. By the time a drinks break was called at 20 overs they were 97 for 1 and now averaging nearly five an over.

It was going to take something different to break their grip on the game and sure enough it happened. The remaining opener, Dawson, called for a quick single for a ball pushed towards short mid on but his batting partner saw different. Phil Spencer pounced on the confusion and the ball was delivered to the gloves of wicket keeper, Simon Wilson, who whipped off the bails. It was difficult to know what was more satisfying – the run out or the batsman’s heated reaction afterwards.

Jonathan Hook joined the attack and had the new batsman plum lbw although the umpire took a while to pick up on the fact. At the other end Ian Holmes was also causing the batsmen problems but their total continued to grow.

Hook saw off their number five as the batsman swung and skyed his shot. The resulting high ball was snapped up by the safe hands of Andrew Robertson at deep square leg and the momentum moved temporarily towards the SFDWP.

Richard Noden rejoined the attack to conclude his spell and then Winfield and Spencer were reintroduced by Peter Cook. Phil Spencer continued to beat the batsmen for pace but it was the precision bowling of Winfield that delivered two wickets scattering the stumps with fine, full deliveries.

The Fishers innings closed on a mighty 239 for 6 meaning SFDWP needed six an over from their 40 overs.

Simon Wilson, fresh from his excellent spell behind the stumps combined with Mike Wallis to open for the SFDWP and both began pressing the run rate in the early overs. Wallis in particular was taking advantage of the pace of the bowlers deftly flicking the ball off his legs to the short boundary for a succession of fours.

The low bounce of the pitch and the accurate bowling were to prove a major problem for the SFDWP. Wilson and Ian Holmes fell to straight low deliveries bringing Phil Spencer to the crease. His ten runs included a superb boundary but luck deserted him when a direct hit to his stumps while running a swift single saw him returned to the sidelines.

The rapid fall of wickets for Stauvers, Barton and Robertson to the accurate bowling of Fishers meant the middle order was collapsing. In the midst of it all Peter Cook batted a fine captain’s innings, digging in to prevent a whitewash. His total of 14 runs did not reflect the stoic way that he kept the Fishers bowlers at bay and created the stability for the final flourish by Winfield and Noden.

When Tim Winfield arrived at the crease the Saddos were still looking at a miserable total. After setting himself though, Winfield’s innings oozed class interspersing five boundaries with well taken singles and twos that quickly built the score. By the time his wicket eventually fell he had set a new SFDWP batting record of 45 and without doubt earned himself the man of the match award.

Fishers reintroduced their pace bowling in the final overs and Richard Noden took advantage hitting the two longest boundaries of the day with belligerent style before his wicket fell to close the innings.

Testimony to the accuracy of the bowling was that, apart from two runouts, all of the Saddos batsmen were clean bowled and it was a crushing loss after the last two victories.

However, the total of 136 was the highest so far by the SFDWP, Tim Winfield set a new record for the Saddos with 45 runs and the fielding remained crisp throughout the 40 overs. Peter Cook’s captaincy was of the highest order and Simon Wilson continued to grow in confidence behind the stumps with another fine display with the gloves.

With the next match scheduled against a less regular team hopefully the dejection will be short lived and the SFDWP can get back to winning ways again.