With Captain Cole looking for his first victory as captain, the Badgers required only two runs off the last over to chase down Southbank’s target of 142. And with Richard “the Finisher” Dollimore on strike and his Captain at the other end, the assembled Badgers (confidently) waited by the boundary rope to see how the game would end….
Wide. Nice, the teams are tied, just one more run for victory.
Dot.
Dot.
Dot. Nerves beginning to surface.
Wi…Dot. Umpire Cloke magnanimously deciding not to end the game on a wide.
Do… hang on, Dollimore has gone for a shot but the ball has got stuck around his midriff and dribbled down to the ground but he’s called Cole through for the run (knowing he’s a 13 second 100m man this should be easy)… Nooo. Disaster… Cole is run out by the sneaky wicket keeper.
Cade strides (confidently) to the crease, the field is brought in extremely close and Cade gives a gentlemanly warning that the ball is about to be hit very hard, Southbank don’t seem to hear him. Dollimore can only watch at the non-strikers’ end ready to sprint down the wicket and throw himself over the line if required and seek redemption for that run out.
FOUR. Cade smashes a full toss passed mid-on for four and the Badgers are victorious.
And so ended a very enjoyable, if slightly soggy game against Southbank in picturesque Greenwich Park. The Badgers’ victory had been set up by a tight bowling display and excellent fielding, the difference between the sides likely to be that the Badgers managed to hold onto their catches in the damp conditions (although one held by Morse did lead to a broken finger). Thomas’ bowling figures finished with a magnificent 7-0-25-6. Yes, that’s 6 wickets following the Southbank tails’ collapse and honourable mention also to Mcluskey for his 2 wickets.
Further mentions in dispatches to the batsman: Warman 48 and Morse 29 (with broken finger), although some commentators eye might have been drawn to the drop kicked helmet following an unfortunate run out (not Cole’s).
That’s now 6 wins out of 6 for the Badgers against Southbank but with some very close games its clear Southbank will be looking to reverse this run next season.