Six to tie off the last ball is always a big ask and so it proved as Phoenix fell just short in the gloom. Yep, this would have been another good toss to win.
This was the game that was rained off at the start of the season if you remember. Rain that is. Apparently it’s wet stuff that falls out of the sky.
St Barnabas elected to make us field in the heat (sound familiar?) and three of their bats managed to get to the retirement threshold or very near after Adrian dismissed George’s frenemy Gavin.
Alex had their remaining danger man caught behind after Jeff had removed a middle order man for a duck and George completed a run out too.
Just the four wickets for us then but only 116 runs for them despite all the batting to come: our ever-erratic pitch was once again refusing to help batsmen.
Dave and Jeff once again led the charge and the former was joined by Ralph, who hit a six on his way to another unbeaten knock.
Peter and Nick contributed a few each to keep the score ticking over as Damon, skipper in Gareth’s absence, came in at six to guide us home. Bruce provided the support act, guiding the shot of the day to the boundary.
We needed eight off the last over to win it and had Damon on strike but, with the sun long having disappeared behind the pavilion, he couldn’t get any of the first three balls away and when he hit the next for a brace it meant he had to retire. George came in for mission improbable but suffered the same fate and our third match of the season to be decided on the final ball went the way of the opposition.
St Barnabas
G Howard c P Creed b Foster 10
R Lee retired not out 25
A Freeman retired not out 26
J Morris c Garman b A West 23
T Bewes b Wilson 0
A Williamson not out 8
A Jacob run out 2
A Johnson not out 0
Extras 22
Total: 116-4 from 20 overs
A West 4-0-18-1
Foster 4-0-16-1
Rolls 4-0-10-0
J West 4-0-30-0
Wilson 4-0-19-1
Phoenix
D Garman b Higginson 14
J Wilson lbw Freeman 10
R Minter retired not out 25
P Creed run out 5
N Robinson c? b Higginson 2
D Rainsford retired not out 26
B Cairnduff not out 8
G Rolls not out 1
Extras 20
Total: 111-4 from 20 overs