Uppermill 2XI 237a0 v Saddleworth 2XI 238-5: Win (5pts)

Everyone had left an early season review meeting at Well-i-Hole on Tuesday night invigorated and determined for the clubs' next few games. Admin changes, commitment and good habits were reinforced. Best laid plans of mice and men, come Friday evening both 1XI and 2XI were scrapping for players after injuries and drop outs late in the day.

Both teams scraped sides together and the 2XI took the short trip to Uppermill, who were stationed 3rd from bottom in the league. Emerson "Emmy" Whitworth and Chris "Brazey" Brazewell (that's the pre-watershed nickname) joined the usual suspects to fight the good fight. Returning skipper Ben Pollard won the toss and elected to bowl on a wicket which looked like it might do a bit. We used the remaining minutes for a semi-organised fielding and bowling warm-up, organised by yours truly. I have no official coaching certificate, as my instructions of "I'll lob it up, Ben will t**t it and you lot take turns to fag it and chuck it back to Jonah" somewhat gave away.

Hey ho - if it works, don't knock it! The first few overs suggested it had paid off, Yifter got into his stride much quicker than recently and was bowling nicely, Pemmy shared opening duties in a ruse to upset their openers and was straight on line and length, the fielding was sharper and throwing in better. It certainly seemed to work, they couldn't get going and it wasn't long before Tunnicliffe had snagged the prolific Bradbury lbw for a duck, soon afterward adding his partner Hill, expertly caught at slip by Emmy for 12. Pemmy took a wicket in his 9th over (having given away only 9-runs at that point) and we took drinks with them 59-3, 22 overs gone. Good tight cricket lads, well played, pressure, pressure, pressure, keep it up.

We didn't. Wayward bowling, slack fielding and mishap after mishap meant the next 23 overs went at 7.7 runs each as Uppermill soared to 237ao. In between much happened: Pemmy left the field breathless after a heavy (how could it be anything else?) dive/fall. He did at least stop the ball, but he could not return to the field to either bat or bowl. Ehsan span many and took a wicket but his line was wayward, and in dropping a catch he split the end of his index finger, end of spell. Kyle "KFC" Clayton bustled in, took a wicket, expensively, then dropped a c&b chance using only his thumb, which wasn't much use for anything else afterward. It went from bad to worse. As SCC players fell like flies, Uppermill's Barlow swatted everything in sight, smashing a splendid 75 which included 5*6s and 8*4s. Good hitting! Shaw and Johnson kept him company and made contributions each.

Some semblance of control was wrought back by the return of Ben Pollard's seam bowling, dusted off after a few year's break, and Yifter, who bowled really well all day. Both took a wicket each and stemmed the tide. The young guns Nathan Gallagher and Tom Hughes replaced them and a proverbial sliver lining appeared as Nath took 2-7 in 3-overs and Hughesy a wicket-maiden to follow-up his batting heroics of the week before. Still, 237 was a good score and more than we'd had to chase so far this season. We took tea apprehensively, a win was needed to keep up our chase at the top of the table.

Jones and Dickson opened together again, and for a few serene overs moved forward smoothly. Jonah took the first couple of overs from the legendary Cec Wright, myself taking a few runs at the other end off the much younger Hill. We were off and running. Then a single took us to the opposite ends.

I'd heard so much about Mr Wright that I'd made some resolutions before the game; show him respect, play the ball on its merits, do not let him get you out. Simple enough eh? The first ball was flat and wide, a cut for two, and all seemed well. In he comes again, this time much floatier, much slower, but wide still and I leave it like a good opener should. Next ball is much the same, straighter though and, despite twitching reflexes, again I follow the rule and play it back. In he comes again, even floatier, even straighter, even slower....the brain says "Block it" but my ego says "SMASH IT"!!!! I swipe horribly, miss appallingly and am struck bang in front, down on one knee. Plumb as you like. The wily old fox had done it, I was out and trudged bashfully back to the Pavilion like many a batsman before. Chapeau, Mr Wright.

It went from bad to worse as Yifter, in form and flying, knicked Hill behind without scoring. 28-2 with 3 crocked batsmen to come, we were up against it.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. In strode Brazewell and steadily balance was regained. Together, he and Jonah showed their class and experience and, increasingly expansively, steered us first to a firmer footing and then to a place were a win was once more possible. Brazey leaning on balls and push them through and over mid-on, Jonah cutting and pulling like a good'n. Both chalked up half-centuries and when the former was out for 67, shortly followed by Jonah for 59 of his own, we'd reached 148-4 in the 23rd over. Well played boys.

Skipper Pollard and Ehsan took up the challenge from there, both batted well too. Ehsan grew in confidence as his innings went along and by the end was launching many a boundary and a 6 into the trees. He was finally out for 39, lbw. He was replaced by KFC and his thumb, who together stoically finished 9no.

At the other end, Polly finished unbeaten on 34 as he saw us home with 4 overs to spare. A true captain's knock. Strange though, he appeared furious throughout - I don't think I've ever seen anyone enjoy a match clinching innings less!

So, we clutched another 5-points and our chase goes on. On paper it looks like we won comfortably in the end, but it never really felt like that. Nevertheless, the job was done and we could relax and celebrate. A few of us did, enjoying the evening sun and a very friendly atmosphere as children took up their own game on the outfield, and their families' dogs acted as fielders and chased each other in equal amounts. A nice scene.

Daily Lesson: We made hard work of this. Still, successful teams find a way to win even when things do not go to plan. Perhaps that was what was happening to us.......