One day, people will stop you and ask…

My oh my. One parent said after the game “Who said cricket was boring!”. For those lucky enough to have witnessed this game it was a real treat but the tension was pretty unbearable for both sets of supporters – cricket at its best and most tortuous.

This game was all about temperament, handling pressure and that old chestnut “catches win matches”.

In a 20 over a side match, Ealing appeared to be on track to keep their opponents in check having them 71 for 5 after 13 overs with their excellent opening batsman running out of partners. Shepherds Bush however ended up 137 for 6…a combination of superb batting by Idris and panicked bowling from our boys.

As the 4s and 6s mounted and the Shepherd’s Bush support got louder, the pressure told and our bowling became more and more wayward and more and more punished. As predicted in a previous match report our problem with extras did indeed come back to haunt us – second top score for our opponents.

Having said that our fielding was sharp (when the ball came close!) and there were notable bowling performances under the circumstances – Faris 2 for 12 off 3 overs and Ned going for 11 off 4 overs – so just 23 off these 7 overs. Do the math, we went for quite a few an over elsewhere. Had Sachin not held on to a tricky catch to remove their opener in the 18th over, we may have had to chase even more.

So 138 to win. Ned and Robbie took to the field and talking to them out on the square, they said it was never in doubt and they played like it never was. I had my heart in my mouth as every ball was bowled, as did the supporters on both sides and when Ned looped the ball towards a fielder on the boundary around the 13th over, it felt like a game changing moment – it was; Robbie & Ned never left the field until the game was won. Ned 93 no. Robbie 35 no – a great partnership and Neo with a dodgy leg too! 138-0 and with 3 overs to spare!

For the second time in a week, a tricky situation overcome. What was pleasing to see, was the support the boys gave each other when the runs began racking up against them…great team spirit.

To quote Michael Hussey “Some days you’re the windscreen, some you’re the bug”. Well done boys!