6pm at the Superdome saw beautiful late evening sunshine and 11 fit and finely tuned Saddoes (well 11 of us anyway) raring to go after a number of weeks with no cricket.

Gardenfields (Grufs) at this stage had 4. Surely the prospect of another cancellation was not looming...?

Skipper Peel generously offered to field first and as the Grufs started to arrive it was clear that we were in fact playing the cast from 1980s popular children's show Grange Hill. Tucker opened the batting with Bomber while Bullet Baxter took the first shift as umpire. One almost expected Mrs McCluskey to come onto the field and tell Zammo off for smoking so much.

WG opened up parsimoniously from the Nettles End with Roberts taking the second over from the Spinning End. The first 4 overs yielded 16 runs, a couple of leading edges and some excellent diving from the rubber legged Bond and keeper Peel.

Longbottom replaced WG and was quickly into his stride producing a series of rapid and well directed deliveries, removing "Beefy". There was no second runway for "Gatwick" as Colin induced a false shot to provide Williams with the first of 2 catches. The Grufs running between the wickets had been a thing of marvel, regularly taking on the ageing throwing arms of the Saddoes. This came unstuck when "Bomber" momentarily changed places with his ISIS cousin "Suicide" and took off for a quick run to Curtis at short extra. The previous over Curtis had hit the stumps directly (fielding mind) and this time made no mistake with a low return. Keeper Peel did the rest.

Williams was angered before the start of the game when Longbottom informed him that Wales had lost the Association Football game the previous evening. This resulted in a feisty spell from the Nettles end with some decent pace. It was however in the field that Williams was to show his true skill. First, with a sumptuous catch running a full 30 yards (without a dive) to dismiss "Bitters" off Church and then turning from the sublime to the ridiculous assisting a stopping ball over the boundary.

Wilson took over from the Spinning End and his first ball disappeared for 4 past the flailing dive of Roberts. Riled, Wilson produced some chin music followed by a perfect straight ball to trap "Chris" LBW. Not only was he given out by one of own team but he didn't appear to have a nickname. Let's call him "Roly".

Bond, inspired by his watching family, produced a late, swinging delivery to clean up "Dingo" before Curtis bowled Chukka. This left Church and Dorey to navigate the last 4 overs. Mixing his pace and length, Church induced false shots from "Bitters" and "Rookie" leaving "Insect" and "Shep" the not out batsman. The Grufs had accumulated 120 which looked a good but not insurmountable total on a slow and low wicket.

Saddoes opened up with Peel and Longbottom. The latter taking the attack to the oppo with some lusty hitting before falling to a good (diving) catch by "Ant" in the outfield. I hadn't come across "Ant" during their batting and it was at this stage that I realised the Grufs were fielding 13 on a rotational basis. An interesting, if not technically illegal tactic, that allowed them a ready substitute when "TPO" later went lame.

Dorey joined Peel and we eventually got into our stride with some strong hitting from Dorey supported by some fine blows from the ancient bat of Peel. When Peel was caught for 21, Roberts joined Dorey with the score on 70 from 12 overs. This was do-able at a little over 6 an over. Dorey continued to hit the ball strong with a huge blow for 6 over mid wicket, before departing for 29 caught behind off the thinnest of inside edges. Wilson and Roberts scampered singles before Roberts called Wilson for a single his 20 year old self wouldn't have made and was runout by a direct hit. All would be alright, surely as the experienced Church strode to the wicket. By now the skies were beginning to bruise and with the light fading fast batting, which had never been easy, became decidedly difficult. Curtis aimed a blow some near the nave of the Abbey (bowled "Bomber"), McKinnon swung the bat in vain and fell in a similar fashion, leaving the stage set for Bond. Despite a couple of fearsome hits he fell to sharp catch at mid wicket. This left Williams and Church needing 30 off 2 overs. If I had to pick the two Saddoes to fulfil this task, these would be my men. Williams started the last over with needing 24 with 2 boundaries, but a combination of the fading light and some tight bowling from Bomber's third over saw us fall 14 short.

Spirits were roused by the sight of enormous curly sausages at the Six Bells and disappointment was soon forgotten as the second pint appeared and the Germans went out of Euro 2016. "Bring back mascot Pointer" was the cry heard before departing into the fading evening gloom...

M "Redmond" Roberts