The Dads managed a full complement this week thanks to debutants John Hollerton, Jan Diprose and Simon Knee. However, we were bumped off the upper pitch by another game and had to take to the lower pitch on a wicket that had faded markings, hadn't been rolled and had an outfield that needed cutting.
Nevertheless, the Dads won the toss and elected to bat, sending in Harsha and Simon Wilson.
Immediately, Si cuts for 4 and Harsha pulls for 4 off a fast bowler. Si pulls a ball, splitting the fielders for 4. Harsha pulls to the long boundary then Si drives for another 4. Harsha is then run out going for 2 off a fielding fumble followed by a good throw. Both have given us a dxmn good start.
Jan in, starting with good ones and twos, then cuts for 4.
Si chips a 1 and retires, bringing Richard Williams to the crease who immediately pulls his first ball for 4.
Jan sweeps for 4 and drives for 6. Richard smashes a great 4.
Just when we thought things were going well Richard is stumped and is walking, but no, he is called back. He smashes a 2 and then retires along with Jan.
Yes, difficult to believe but the Dads have three retirees, possibly a record but no one can be bothered to look it up.
Peter C strides in with the spectators anticipating more fireworks. Then, his trademark upish drive for 6, but shock, this is well caught on the boundary - hasn't the fielder read the script?
Colin and Michael take the field. Michael pulls for 4 and immediately repeats it; you all know the shot by now, but so do Crabtree, positioning a fielder there who catches Michael - sneaky sxds.
Then a clatter of wickets as Simon Knee and Graham fall. In the meantime Colin is putting bat to ball. He is joined by Stauvers and the pair do some good running at the death to bump the total up to 126.
A creditable score.
Let's set the scene. All of us, apart from me, remembered that Crabtree can bat and more than a bit. They scored 162 in their match the previous week.
Colin and Michael opened the Dads bowling and kept their cool in the face of two good openers, with Colin bagging one of them off a lovely catch by a sliding Peter Church at mid-on.
Si and John up next. Si bravely finding his range and John, who hadn't bowled for years, was unphased and accurate with his spin.
Champagne moment was Jan's one handed diving stop just inside the long-off boundary rope.
Then Stauvers, on seeing his best ball dispatched to the boundary, spoke to the umpire who said:
"yes, he's a good batsman, he scored 32 off one over last week"!
Fortunately, Stauvers recovered his composure and was unlucky not to get a couple of wickets.
On came Jan, sending down good length kickers and Graham, hobbling in off a short run, successfully managed to keep Crabtree quite, which must have been quite a shock as it has probably never happened to them before. Jan deserved his classy caught and bowled, shouting "mine" so loudly that even the players on the adjacent pitch froze.
Simon Knee, bowling dangerous slingers, took one of the only clean bowled wickets in the match and was unlucky not to bag more.
Harsha was due on next but it was too late as Crabtree reached the target in the 17th over.
Our batting was good, theirs was better.
Still, big positives: the attitude of the team in defeat; the performances of the new boys; greater worldwide awareness of sustainably sourced foods; etc...