A headline in today's Guardian reads "Brutal Buttler dismantles Sri Lanka in one-sided T20 demolition job". The headline for this report could easily be "Brutal Busted dismantles Park Street Dads in one-sided T20 demolition job", for in powering to 34 while hitting three massive sixes - one clearing the trees at the nettles end - our own Simon Knee helped the Saddoes to chase down the modest total of 100 set by a depleted PSD team who clearly do not travel well.

The alliteration does not work as well, but the headline could alternatively have mentioned Longbottom, whose eye for a quick single and clever placement of the ball yielded a 27-run retirement including 5 boundaries, or Jones who scored his first ever six before selflessly retiring on 21 to allow others the glory of scoring the winning runs.

After a three-week layoff due to availability challenges and weather-related cancellations this match began in bright sunshine with the Saddoes agreeing to field due to Park Street's lack of players. The opening pair of Hollerton and Cooper were as parsimonious as ever, restricting Park Street to just 10 runs from the first four overs. Cooper impressively bowled two maidens and was denied a wicket when Longbottom dived to his right but just failed to hold on to a catch. The batsmen, possibly frustrated by the lack of runs available, decided to capitalise on this by stealing a run, but Longbottom recovered quickly and ran out the opener with a direct hit.

The first change pair were the two Tims. At first Pointer's bowling was reminiscent of Steve Harmison (a sentence I never thought I would write), steering his first ball in the direction of second slip. He soon recovered his composure, however, to take a sharp return catch off his own bowling later in the over. At the other end Winfield was swinging the ball wildly and was rewarded with a wicket off his second delivery, hitting the stumps with an unplayable delivery.

O'Grady was not feeling well and almost threw up in the middle of his first over, but was still able to generate searing pace from his 2-step run up. He was rewarded with figures of 2-1-2-0. Hook's figures were damaged by having to bowl to Park Street's big hitter, but still went for only 13. Wilson, serving up his usual mix of long hops and full tosses, did not have the same excuse but was more expensive. He did, however, manage to get one to pitch in the right place and squeeze through the gate to hit the stumps.

Jones's recent side injury was not in evidence as he twirled away from the nettles end. Your correspondent was tempted not to mention the catch he dropped at mid on off Jones's bowling, but it might as well go down in these pages since he will never be allowed to forget it. While the fielder was venting his anger at his carelessness (and possibly at the relentless reminders he was sure to have to endure) other fielders reported hearing what was described as a "girly yelp" of anguish from the bowler. His frustration was partly appeased a couple of balls later when Longbottom executed a sharp stumping chance to help Jones finish with a return of 1-7.

Death bowling is never easy, but Dorey and Knee made it look easy. The former bowled two very tight overs that went for only 6 runs, while the latter generated enough pace to induce a catch behind the stumps, and his figures only suffered when the big hitter returned from retirement.

The modest total of 100 was testament to the tight bowling and the committed, sharp fielding that resulted in three run outs. Particularly active was Cooper - diving like he was 30 years younger and sometimes making contact with the ball, and Longbottom behind the stumps who ended up with a stumping and a sharp catch to add to his part in the run outs.

The Saddoes' response started off quickly and the pace never really dropped. With the first three batsmen retiring, it was left to Cooper and Winfield to finish things off in the 13th.

As this report is written by the club's resident Statto, it's appropriate to include a few facts and figures at the end:
- This is the first match in the club's history (including both victories and defeats) that has been won by 10 wickets. The next biggest wickets winning margin was a 9-wicket defeat to Fisher's in 2009.
- This was our fourth match against Park Street, but the first away from their home ground. Both teams have now won two games each.
- This was the second time that the first three batsmen have retired. The only other time this happened was against STAGS in 2014.
- That same match against STAGS is the only time the Saddoes have completed more run outs than the three in this match.