The last game of the season always comes around faster than you think it will, but as we didn’t start till late May because spring was under water, and we haven’t really had much of a summer, it seems to have happened faster than ever this year.
Henry’s final toss decision as he takes his captaincy bow was to bowl, largely driven by the wish to be able to get the coals lit while we were batting, for a pleasant little end of season barby. But it certainly looked like a bowling day.
True to form this summer delivered perfect barbecue weather: chilly, overcast and windy, with the odd patch of drizzle.
We bowled for the most part what you might call fine but unthreatening. Robert with his now customary thrift, Tappers with good control and some lift, off what was one of the deader surfaces Damerham can provide. Smithers bowled with a precise economy, four of his eight in maidens to a 7-2 field, but it didn’t swing and no one looked particularly threatening. Ryan got a couple of wickets, one off a long hop producing a stunning catch from Pards, running backwards over his shoulder. H also bowled without threat, and I bowled some rancid filth. The game drifted and began to feel like a slog, until Tappers woke it up with two wickets in two balls in the last over.
Chasing 206 certainly didn’t seem insurmountable, and it proved a nice tight game. Six down with six overs left and Henry still in needing eight an over, it was anyone’s. It was theirs though, and the final few wickets went in a rapid clatter.
The highlight of the chase was undoubtedly Nick’s fluent and positive 80, his best knock for Damerham which he looked certain to convert into a ton until he popped one back to the bowler off the bottom of a widening split on the tow of his bat. He will at least have the consolation of a brand new bat for next year.
There were a couple of moments of controversy. A catch that Robert thought was good and the two fielders next to him were convinced was clean, but the batsman was indignantly convinced was not, and then one of their bats got what we were all firmly convinced was a very healthy edge behind, that he didn’t walk for an their umpire didn’t give. But these moments passed without malice and did not spoil a really good tight game played in good spirits, a fine end to any season.
Many thanks to Pards for organising the barby, Tappers for manning the fire tools, Angus and Alice for fiercely clearing up, and Smithers for making the second best slaw.
So that’s it, the 2024 league season is over. All that lies between us and next season is seven months of cricket bags mouldering in lofts and garages. But no, what’s that hoving into view in a fortnight? Could it be could it possibly be? Yes it is! The DCC tour to Hastings is almost upon us. Let’s hope it doesn’t smash down with rain, eh.
Written by Si
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