They say it is the winners that get to write the history. Well if that was the case, there would no record of this game left by either side for posterity to mull over in years' to come. Or would there (more later).

In short, it was a draw, or tie as Curtis, Evershed and all the other cricket anoraks are quick to point out.

This was a tie dragged from the open jaws of certain victory. This was 15 needed from 18 balls, this was 3 runs from 6, this was balls.

The evening got off to a flyer with Curtis carefully picking up Busted's two precious pink balls and placing them, gently, on a rack (roof rather than Carol's), so as not to forget them. He then jumped into the Sherpa' s car (sat-nav optional) and promptly left them behind. How the transcript of Curtis' call home to ask his 12 year old daughter to retrieve Busted's balls from on top of his car was not recorded (except by Childline).

Captain Jones' fine run of form continued (he loses the toss for the seventh straight game) and into the field the Saddos ambled, trudged, and in Sherpa's case, shuffled.

Pointer behind the stumps and the Whippet that is Mr Church out at fine leg. Opening bowlers are Williams and Evershed. Both initially struggle to find their line and length. Williams line is about 2 feet wide of leg, "cock" is a phrase used more than once in the opening over by the colourful Welshman as two go down the leg side. Eversheds bowls dead straight, but bowls a little short (about 3 meters short) and sees his balls (red) fly to the boundary more than once (three times). Second over is better (if you ignore three more "cocks"). The Neath Valley Light Railway (no express service) picks up the opener as Peel, woken from his usual nap takes a great catch. Next over Evershed bowls the no.3 for a duck and the opposition are reeling at 36 for 2. Evershed 2-1-24, Williams 2-1-12.

Two down means only one thing, Ben comes in. Simply Crabtree equation is Crabtree - Ben = Saddo victory. So could we get him out. Captain Jones calls up the big guns. He turns in this moment of truth the ever reliable Skippy (love ya all, ya me best mates) O'Grady and Winfield the Elder, the Saddo's real pace merchants. Skippy hits the ground hard, Ben hits the ball harder and a couple of 4s are scored. Winfield is again in electric form and is almost unplayable. It is at this moment Ben skied one to deep mid-off, the team look on expectant, as the Sergeant plans his feet and stares skyward. The ball lands about 4 feet in front of him and there is a low moan amongst the mourners. Wilson mentions something about the sun in his eyes. No-one is convinced. [Ed - The fielder has a different recollection of this moment, in which the ball sailed over his head and he jumped to attempt the catch but could not get enough of a hand on it to prevent its progress to the boundary] O'Grady 2-0-19, Winfield 2-0-8 (bowler of the week certificate).

Next comes the calamity twins, drop a lot Wilson and tie and end down Peel. Wilson bowls at Ben up it goes. Hurray. But, who should realise, slightly too late, that he was the nearest fielder, but the Corporal. Now, the best that can be said is that he never really look like he had it. He dives [falls] forward and the ball lands tantalisingly 3 feet in front of him. A heartfelt sorry Simon is issued. His first over goes for 4, the next for 11. There may have been another dropped catch of Ben in that one, but as this correspondent was not to blame, names will remain confidential. [Ed - This was Sergeant Wilson who made an admittedly half-hearted attempt to get to a skyer from Ben off his own bowling] Peel keeps it tight with 2-0-19. Some may have landed on the square but I cannot recall.

Curtis up next with his mixture of wides, pies and wicket taking balls (these ones not left on this car roof). Curtis bowls a good length ball which is driven straight at Peel. Peel decides to catch it with his hands, not his lips this time, and takes a really sharp chance. Curtis mentions something about the start of a hat trick. He is ignored by his team mates, and by the opposition batsman and ends with 2-1-18. The Corporal bowls ok and takes a run-out off his own bowling (so a wicket in Curtis' books). He ends with 2-0-13.

The innings is ended death bowl pairing of Neal and Church. Brakes applied to the Crabtree innings as they end with 2-0-8 and 2-1-5 respectively. Great bowling performance at the end. Crabtree end on 141 (possibly).

The Corporal rallies the troops and sends them out to do their duty. Because he liked the rhyme of it, he sends out Peel and Neal (the unsuccessful Peel and Pointer having been consigned to the "where are they now" section of club history). Peel bats with his usual elegance and retires on 26 having hit four 4s. Rupert enters the battle and plays his shot to perfection, retiring on 25 having his six 4s (batsman of the week certificate winner). Enter Pointer. Many things can be said about Pointer's batting. However we are not allowed to say most of it in print without the lawyers getting involved. However, I think it is fair to say that recent history would suggest that running between the wickets is not a strong point. Neal retires on 27. Jones enters and leaves. Pointer hits a 4. The crowd go ballistic. His strike rate rises to 10%. Skippy arrives faces 4 balls and is out for 10. Williams enters and does what he does. Hitting a swift 16. Then, just as the Saddos bandwagon looks to be on the home straight disaster strikes. Either:

a) a ball hits his pads well forward and missing leg (the Williams version); or

b) he is plum LBW (the Peel version).

As Peel is the umpire, there is only one outcome. Winfield enters with about 8 needed from 12 balls. No worries. Pointer hits a single, Winfield a 4. 3 needed from the last over.

Suddenly it's 2 needed off the last 2 balls and Winfield is batting. No worries. The first ball passes his bat and then beats the keeper. Pointer does what Pointer does and charges down the crease (the correct call). Winfield is unmoved. He sends him back. He must be confident of at least a 2 off the last ball. The last ball is accurate and they scramble a single. The match is drawn/tied/thrown away.

Controversy ensues when the team study the scorecard after the match and find they can only account for 141 runs on Crabtree's scorecard compared with a stated total of 143. So the tie may have been a narrow victory, but we should have won it anyway without resorting to scoreboard fiddles.

Lessons learnt:

1. Don't drop Ben 3 times (mea culpa).

2. Perhaps Shaun has a point about warming up with fielding practice.

3. Picking batting combinations that rhyme is a winning option.

4. Don't put Church anywhere requiring movement.

5. You slag, is the funnies thing I have ever heard an opposition fielder call himself after kicking a ball over for 4.

6. For god's sake run should be our team motto (Mr Church excepted).

Player of the game. Pointer, for keeping so well and not getting flustered under pressure.