26th Sept 2010 War of the Roses - Rained Off! Or the one where the skipper claimed a stumping off a wide much to Bazley's consternation!

From the battlefield correspondent Tom Morris reports...

The last game of the season always comes with a waft of melancholy in the air, and the Wildcats fixture with Black Rose was no exception. Despite the early start, the clouds hung heavy over the trees, impatiently waiting to draw another season to a close, which they promptly did at 4 o’clock, leaving both sodden sides to retire to the club house for chicken and chick peas and a what-might-have-been.

The first signs were good as, after the captain arrived early, the first man to emerge was Stuntman Stu. It turned out he’d forgotten he was playing, but hadn’t made it home after the end of season do on Saturday night, falling
asleep in the score box, emerging bleary-eyed asking if the bar was still open.

Black Rose are renowned for their nonchalant lack of respect for bowling of any nature and, after winning the toss and choosing to bat, demonstrated this from the first over by brutally assaulting Bernard in a most ungentlemanly manner. Despite losing a couple of early wickets, they raced to 90 after 10 overs. Luckily, the Sundayers had been blessed with the presence of schoolboy legend, Syd Vicious who brought some order to the proceedings, opening the bowling with zest and taking an early wicket, although even he found it difficult to restrain the thorny Rose batting.

As ever, Syd made up for this, spending much of the afternoon leaping over the grass like a mad March hare, bringing out gasps of admiration reminiscent of the Chinese Olympics opening ceremony - even when he missed the ball he was given 9/10 for style. He took two excellent catches, including one involving running from the boundary to the bowlers wicket shouting ‘mine, mine, MINE!!’, snatching it from Ken’s slippery palms, held out quivering like Oliver with his begging bowl.

The skipper made the inspired decision to bring on George to put the breaks on proceedings, which he duly did with youthful panache. He was dutifully supported by Ken at the other end, with the two little beavers building a tidy damn to stem the flow, taking a wicket each to boot. Sturdy fielding helped, with Paul in particular showing hidden talents in his throwing – could be a permanent spot on the boundary for you next season – “no, not that flag, that flag!”

By this time, the rain was gate crashing the party. The visitors chose to stick it out, so no mercy was given as Tom and Stu came on to plod the ball down into the mud patches, bamboozling the batsmen sinking slowly into the quagmire. Stu, as usual, took the plaudits, with a personal best of 3 for 17, while Tom claimed a stumping from a wide. Ken ‘Ask the Umpire’ Bazeley might dispute this, but as it would make Tom the leading Sunday wicket taker this season, he knows where he can stick his handbook. [Ed - this is law 39 see below which states you can be out stumped off a wide] see p.49 and p.38 out from a wide in:

http://www.lords.org/data/files/laws-of-cricket-2000-code-4th-editi...

The final score, 247 for 8, gave a glimmer of hope for the chase, but, alas, it was not to be, with Mother Nature the ultimate winner. Good signs for next season with youngsters like George and the nimble keeper Sasha, as well as the wily old hands of Mark turning out in support – more please as we’re all there to make the club work together – Go Wildcats!

Man of the Match: George Greenslade