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We took to the field around twenty minutes later, unburdened by full stomachs - the tea seemed to amount to half a sandwich and a chocolate biscuit - pondering how to bowl at Olly, who having turned up to watch, had been drafted into the GP&R side. He had smashed a rapid 23 before the Dominator produced a killer ball to bowl him. By this time the ball had become rather scarred, and despite fine efforts and reasonable line and length, Phil and Brad could not do much with it. Nick had replaced Dom, spin seeming the best option with little prospect of seam movement or swing. Nick bowled a superb 16 over spell, conceding only 51 runs and claiming 2 crucial wickets. I persisted with the spin theory; 4 overs for Ritchie - resurrecting his leg-spin - then 5 overs of left arm spin from me, all to no avail, at least in terms of wickets. During this period the GP&R number 3, Montgoner, steadily improved and began to look very likely to win the game. I played my last cards, bringing Dom and Mitzy into the attack. The opposition suddenly broke free, Montgoner blasting three sixes in one Mitzy over, and all at once they were favourites to win. They had 5 overs to go, seven wickets in hand, and needed only about 25 runs. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Dom tempted the bludgeoner, now on 97, into playing at a wide one, the ball took the edge and Dom was celebrating before the catch had even been taken. He had every right to his pre-mature ejaculation as the ball stayed securely in the gloves of James, as we have come to expect. James's catch was soon to be bettered by his next, exquisitely pouching the ball as it rose from a left-handers top edge, again from the aggressive bowling of Dom. Three catches behind for James, who just keeps getting better!
Tim showed great strength of character to readjust his line and length and join the party with 2 wickets, both bowled. Dom remained however the undoubted star of the day. Harvey shrewdly moved himself to backward point and could hardly believe it as the ball was guided straight to him, again from the Dominator's bowling. In the blink of an eye and with an over and a half remaining, Dom's searing pace beat the opposition's skipper's wild flay, and unbelievably the last wicket had fallen, with Dom finishing with a match winning analysis of 6 wickets for 23 runs. Cue wild celebrations and a prolonged session in the bar. It was great to win after such a long time, but the extraordinary manner of the win made it a game that will be long remembered.
Of course when a game is so nearly won there are always a thousand little things that could have made a difference, but on balance I prefer to think that everyone played their part in an exciting game; any match that has so much hanging on the last over must be a good one.
The barbecue was a resounding success, thanks to the food contributions made by everyone, but mostly due to the massive amount of effort put in by Linda, Kate and Angela to ensure the meat etc. actually got cooked. I personally can't thank them enough. It was great to see a few faces that don't get along to the cricket so much these days, like Doug & Diane, Si Thorpe, Rita Wiskin, Flacky etc. and I reckon we should make sure that we maintain the barbecue tradition - although the committee, of which I am of course a member, need to organise the event a little better in future!