A loss would have seen The Cutters finish at the bottom of the ladder, an unfamiliar honour.
Our reporter is Mark Dowell.
Our reporter is Mark Dowell.
Final game for the season and with the inaugural Captain attending, the finals are lost but pride is on the line for the Cutters as we need a win to guarantee we don't collect the wooden spoon. We lose the toss and we are having a bowl and Dowell receives the shiny new pill. It works a treat - 2 wickets and they are -4 after an over. They scratch out some runs off the Latchford over but the Perry over produces a run out from Dowell and a regulation stumping from Rock. With only 5 on the board Hill is on and the left handed Alex is intent on getting some big runs. Hill puts one full outside off and Alex winds up and smash and its straight into The Don's face and he is down and it is nasty. Fortunately his glasses didn't smash but it was quite a blow just above the eye and he is retired from the game and attended to by Mick and Russ.
The game resumes the ball is re-bowled and its exactly the same and smash it wizzes past Dowell now in the silly mid off position. After all the drama they end up posting just 15 for the first pair - a good result for the Cutters but now we only have five in the field. The Don is recovering.
Next pair are intent on taking advantage of the gap in the field - in particular Shane who hits the ball hard and facing Rock, Dowell, Perry and Hill they manage to compile a handy 39 bringing the score up to 54.
The final pair has the capable Josh - very quick with the ball and pretty handy with the bat and facing Rock first he is caught first ball - its a good omen. They go back into their shell just milking the twos with Dowell back saving the 4's, 5's and 7's but we snare another wicket in the Latchford over. Last two overs and they chose Dowell and Rock to bowl. Dowell gets spanked for a 7 but Perry takes a brilliant low catch the next ball. The score now is 75 and they press off the Rock over for big runs but three catches - two by Rock himself peg the score at 77. That is gettable.
Perry and Hill to start and they are being careful - lots of ones but also not having to hit much as they bowl 5 no balls in the first two overs - we'll take em. The pacey Josh - who is still steaming after scoring just one with the bat - and also lucky not to lose three more runs for bat abuse - bowls fast - but two wides to start is handy. He does get a wicket off his last ball but Perry and Hill are solid. They face the left arm Alex for their last and deal with his awkward inswingers well and post 25 to start.
Dowell and Rock next and are facing the fairly straight forward nude balls from Luke. After seeing the first ball Dowell decides that we need to get after him and drives uppishly but is caught - just at the back. Rock follows up with a 5 but then we have another run out. Final ball Dowell gets the angles right and gets the handy 7 - but after a lot of running and belting of the ball they have just 8. Next they face Steve the captain who from memory puts some work on the ball and Rock and Dowell play him carefully but also getting a three and a four away. Next the pacey Shane and a couple more fours are scored but also a wicket is taken and these two have posted 28 after three . Final over sees Dowell hit another 7 and they end up posting 37 and the score is 62 - just 16 to get for Latchford and a partner - they pick the HIll boy.
Nasty total 16 as you know you should get it but if you play too carefully you can get yourself into trouble. 1st two balls two wickets - not the best start and the Randoms are getting a bit arced up.But the rest of the over is steady with 2's and ones. Next over from Chris has four no balls- one of which Hill steals a run and with a final ball 4 from Latchford we are on 77 and have two overs to go. Second last over is Josh and he is clearly frustrated with the game and tears in and bowls fast - Latchford handles the first ball well. Then he bowls a wide and then a pointless bouncer to Hill to gift us two more runs and the score is now 82. Two dot balls brings up a third ball situation facing the left arm Alex for the last. First ball is caught and then the second ball is a confusing run out and suddenly the score is back to 76. They knuckle down these two and score ones carefully until they reach 79 and then Latchford facing the last ball plays an orthodox defence shot - no run and we win by 2.
A good win considering we were down to 5 pretty early - off to the bar to celebrate a rare win and then Rock and Dowell team to get the Don home. That's it for this season - on to the next season starting in three weeks.
