Sunseekers tie with mighty Sandiacre!
Posted Monday, July 24, 2006
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Paul Downes' brilliant double misfield fooled the next lad into thinking a second run was on
Sandiacre Town 183-7 (Bembridge 54, Brown 35, Domleo 31, W Evans 2-36, Crawford, Ashford, M Walters 1 apiece).
Sunseekers 183-6 (Wenn 45, P Downes 37, Coulthurst 34, Nicholls 23 not out, Domelo 2-23).
The way Sandiacre Town approached both the cricket and the overall hosting of a Sunday friendly should be recorded as guidelines for every club side and all Sunseekers can think of three clubs who should read it straightaway.
When Mugginton let us down on Friday morning (they seem to run two separate fixture lists and we were on the wrong one) Sandiacre stepped in with an offer and it would be fair to say that quite a few of the selected Sunseekers feared another day of pointless leather-chasing like the ones at Ambergate and Elvaston.
But, of course, the reality is that, although Sandiacre were national club champions in 2003 and currently sit top of the Derbyshire Premier League, they run four other league teams and have a big junior section, so the opportunity for putting out a Sunday side to give us old buggers a decent game is there, as it is at any other club. That a memorable game was tied indicates that Sandiacre judged it perfectly.
They got off to an ominous flyer, 20 from the first two overs, but actually then scored only 100 from the next 30 as we stuck to the task and started chipping away. Will got both openers, one trapped in front, the other slicing to Mogie at point, and Paul Downes' brilliant double misfield fooled the next lad into thinking a second run was on, only for Paul's recovery to wing in to his dad right over the stumps.
Juniors Josh Bembridge and George Domleo then batted really well for Sandiacre, if at times a little fortunately, and Josh completed the first 50 of his life shortly before the end. It won't be the last.
It's a measure of the spirit in the Sunseekers' camp right now that this target didn't daunt us as much as it might have a couple of years ago, even without Carpo playing. Paul and the Little Fat Captain duly compiled a diligent opening partnership of exactly 100 before Mick was nicely caught low down at slip.
Will didn't last long, mistiming a pull that should have been on its way out of the ground, but Nigel picked up the pace nicely and he DID get one out of the ground, a delightful pick-up over square leg for six, one to remember for a long time.
Suddenly, there was a buzz around the pavilion as a tight finish loomed. Paul was finally out after his excellent anchor role but Steve was now hitting cleanly.
Nine needed from the last over and Steve hit two, two and four to bring the scores level with two balls left. Unfortunately, Mogie was run out backing up after Steve hit the first of these back to the bowler, then Sam was just short as they attempted a single off the last ball. No-one to blame, just one of those things.
It could have been a win but we'd have settled for respectability before the start and we'll be delighted to make Sandiacre the only Premier League club on our regular list from here on.
A marvellous day and our thanks to all at Sandiacre.
CC
Steve Nicholls adds: I appear to have worked out how to add photographs from the day. Some of them are even in focus.
