Detail: 26-06-2011 - Shackleford
Result: W by 1 wicket
Blues let loose their shackles..........
Cloudless sky. Picture postcard ground. Half the team stuck in traffic at five to two. The Shackleford game promised a Blues classic. And my, how it delivered.
Skipper Selleck made possibly the least popular decision of the season by winning the toss and electing to field. The mercury was hitting 30 but the way Rohit was sweating, it could have been 40 plus. The Blues still swearing the skippers name and face to face with small ground and 40 over minimum in front of them were not looking forward to the uphill battle in front of them; however Zubair and Asif opened and both got off to a tight start, with Zubair particularly accurately and getting an early wicket.
Freeman, having had "sat nav issues" arriving at the ground, immediately found his direction and sent the timbers of the other Shackleford opener tumbling. In the middle of the huddle, the buyoant Blues were about to congratulate Skipper on the wonderful toss decision but then spent the next 12 overs collecting the ball from the surrounding trees and bushes as Shackleford's 3 and 4 looked to ensure they didn't miss their 5.30 booking in the shade at the Cyder House Inn.
Still, the Blues continued to chase everything and evenually tightened it up and created some pressure. It built and built and from 89 for 2, the Blues brought on a middle order collapse of Blues proportions and left Shackleford on 121 for 6. Singh and Freeman were the main damage makers, Singh bowling his highly effective outswingers ended on 3 for 43 off 10 whilst Freeman, shoulders and pace, ended on 4 for 37 off 12.
One might say, Coleman, a debutant and not having bowled for 10 years, was a risk but in Blues language, he had form and duly got a run out and bowled nicely for his 0 for 12 off 4. George Whelan also bowled and picked up a wicket with a peach. He was wayward but he just wanted to make a game of it. More of him later. The tail enders were slippery but by tea, the Blues were pleased with having restricted the oppo to 169 for 8. Reachable.
As we got stuck into tea and cigs, devastating news hit camp. They were carrying on after tea. The Blues now barely able to see let alone move such was the heat somehow summed up the energy to race round the field until we got the last two wickets. Target 198. Less reachable particulary given we started batting at 5.40.
We lost two early wickets with Berry and Regan both losing out to balls that stopped on them; Selleck and Freeman came together and created some momentum with Freeman getting his eye in and unleashing his some enormous 6's. The scoreboard ticked very nicely indeed for a period (not a phrase regularly used this season) but with Freeman out on 74, the pressure was still on; the Blues required 100 off the last 15 overs and with Zubair and Singh more Botham than Boycott, it looked that the win was on. Oh no. Zubair, Coleman and Asif all went in relatively quick succession and from a position of authority the Blues were packing up for a consolation pint.
G Whelan, lidded, joined Singh in the middle with saving for the draw as instructions. Singh had different ideas and battled aggresively, no suicidally, to leave the Blues needing 14 off the last two overs. Two dot balls with G Whelan facing and the field all in for the catch. What happened next can only be described as Blues poetry as he unleashed a monumental six over mid wicket; he clutched Singh in jublilation. Whelan R misty eyed.
Last over, their opener comes back on and G Whelan is bowled. Blues require 2 off 2 with Whelan R taking to the crease. Wide. Pandamonium in the crowd. 1 off 2. Leg side dobbler, Singh, having backed up like Javed Miandad all game, takes off and runs to the keeper. Fumble. Whelan R gets to the other end wondering what all the fuss is about. Blues win by 1 wicket. What a game.
Honourable mentions to Das for probably the toughest days keeping anyone could imagine, Rohit for his excellent 34, Zubs his battling 34 and Asif's bowling stint unlucky not to be rewarded more. Everyone contributed and the pint afterwards was sweet. Now that's why they call us the Blues.
[updated 30 07 2011]