“Third Time Lucky”
 
It was a dark and stormy midafternoon, the clouds hung like great black blankets getting ready to fall and smother any kind of cricketing life that was present. Unfortunately Captain Chris lost the toss and St James was sent in to bat in the most unfriendly of batting conditions. Michael Nelson was soon back in the pavilion after looking to hit out after some tight bowling. The tight bowling continued and pretty soon new player Nic Ferguson (batting on after getting hit in the head) and Sir Dave (who was unlucky to be caught down the leg side) were also dismissed. Sir Greg looked the goods as well before he was caught and bowled by the St Pats spinner. This bought Tim Lihou who could not be there the second week to the crease. Things looked on the up with Brendo (who was still in after opening and looking very solid) starting to hit his stride and Tim getting runs at will. This was when the heavens decided to open and stop any sort of comeback that the Tungstens were having. The day ruined…..the pitch soaked……the frustration level pretty high……
 
Week two began with the knowledge that the stupid rules that the union has would disadvantage the mighty Tungstens but six an over would still give them a defendable total. The stress levels were high and got higher as Tim (who turned up anyway to bat, a true team player) was dismissed and St Pats continued to bowl with great line and length. The stress levels got so high that some of the Tungstens (myself included) started to express their frustration verbally. This did not help things and eventually played a part in Brendo’s dismissal, a lesson learnt and one that should not have to be learnt again.

Unfortunately the good tight bowling continued and wickets continued to fall eventually dismissing St James for 112, only the second time they have been dismissed all season. Due to the stupid rules the union had it meant that St Pats had 44 overs to get the runs……..St James needed wickets.
 
This scenario would normally demoralise any cricket team…..but not the Tungstens……The Tungstens who know that it is possible to win from any position.
 
Sir Greg opened up and promptly had two wickets with in the first few overs including one off the second ball of the inning. What followed was a 52 run partnership between the St Pats skipper and some new bloke. Eventually Sir Dave was brought in to the attack and after his first couple of overs were wayward he eventually got to bowl to the right handed new bloke and dismissed him……
 
Drinks followed……..and I mean that it was just time for drinks not that we celebrated the wicket with a round of toasts of champagne or beer…..actually it was technically tea so if we were to celebrate we should have brewed a pot of tea.
 
After drinks the St Pats needed 47 runs with 7 wickets in hand….someone in their team thought it would be a good idea to “give people a go” and mix up their order. Big mistake.
 
Sir Dave soon ripped though their middle order on his way to 5 for 30 (including the wickets of their three best batsmen). He deceived their skipper with a slow full toss the most deadly of deliveries, then bowled their next batsman nearly spearing wicket keeper Chris with the stump and then had another batsman caught at mid off. At this point a conversation was had with their umpires noting that at 6 for 102 and only needing 11 runs to win it would be best to just stay out on the field to finish the game rather than going off waiting and then coming back on again for what could be one over. The umpires agreed and when yours truly noted that it meant that they would have to stay out even if they lost three quick wickets they still agreed.

Well needless to say they lost three quick wickets with Steve Chacka having one caught behind and another plumb in front in the space of 3 balls before Sir Dave picked up his fifth by having St Pats best batsman caught at gully by Brendo. This lead to a tense few overs with St Pats still needing seven runs. With two runs still needed to win Sir Dave induced an edge which flew high between first slip and keeper, Chris leapt high to his right and got a hand on it before it dropped safely behind the cordon and the batsmen scampered through for a single. A boundary was soon hit winning the game for St Pats who should consider themselves lucky, third time lucky after sending St James in twice previously for losses.

The St James Boys were left feeling unlucky, disappointed at losing but satisfied in the knowledge that they put up a really good fight and nearly pulled off the seemingly impossible. The finals are around the corner and the St James boys are hungry. Woe is he who underestimates this team, to them shall be dealt despair and destruction.
 
The end