Last Ball Thriller

Park were put into bat on a very green and dubious looking surface at Hall Place with Dave Hearn and Dave Fletcher opening the batting. We were soon in trouble as Hearnie mistimed a cut that lobbed to point and was caught out for 2. Skipper Gannon was a worried man when Sean Pritchard was then bowled first ball by a stunning delivery. Simon Ewin joined Fletch out in the middle and these two set about consolidating the innings. The ball was keeping very low most of the time and runs were hard to come by, and boundarys as rare as sightings of the treasurers wallet. After some patient play Fletch was eventually bowled for a fine 23 and Kenny Robotham stepped up at no.5 to replace him. Another little consolidation took place here until Ken came down the pitch to the spinner and was stumped for 8. With time draining and very few runs on the board Park were in a difficult situation so it was good to see Dave Brupacher marching out at no.6. Unfortunately bru got an unplayable delivery that appeared to be passing harmlessly outside the off stump and then turned a mile in and Bru could only watch as it hit his stumps. With Bru departing for 1, Dave Partridge entered the fray, but he too only lasted a few deliveries before spooning a catch into the covers to head back to the pavillion with 1 to his name. Skipper Gannon was in next and was looking for a good partnership with Si to get Park over the hundred in the last fifteen minutes but it was not to be. A thundering drive from Simon went straight back to the bowler who managed to get a fingertip on the ball before it demolished the stumps to leave Gannon stranded and run out for 6. Dave Robotham was up at no.9 to join Simon who had been working the ball around throughout his innings, and had now decided to go for it. Unfortunately he soon top edged a ball up into the air that the keeper pocketed. Simon out for a fine 21 and Terry Shannon stepped up to the crease at no.10. Tel was straight off the mark with a single but then was caught at point a few balls later. Paul Moss joined Dave in the middle with only minutes left and was stumped for 1 after stepping out of his crease to leave Dave Robotham unbeaten on 6 and Park all out for 96 (extras top scoring with 25 !)

Paul Moss and Dave Partridge opened the attack for the Park and Davey Boy was straight on the mark in his first over, having the no.2 bat caught nicely by Kenny at point and then having the no.3 caught first ball by Bru behind the stumps to leave the oppo two down without a run on the board. The no.1 bat could not get Mossy away at the other end and lead a charmed life for over after over. Devonshires no.4 bat was a different proposition and looked to smash a boundary every over and soon looked to be eating into the Park total. Mossy eventually had his reward as the no.1 bat started to swipe in desperation at him and soon nicked one through to Bru to leave them on 28 for 3. Dave Robotham came on from the top end and straight away bowled the danger man out to leave Parks Skipper breathing a huge sigh of relief as dveonshire were now on 39 for 4. Mossy was soon back in the action at the other end forcing the no.6 bat to top edge to Dave Robotham at fine leg who took a nice catch. With the oppo at 44 for 5, skipper Gannon sneaked on for a couple of overs but couldnt make a breakthrough as a couple of catches went down. Dave Robotham at the other end was bowling up a storm though and clean bowled the no.7 to put Devonshire on 57 for 6. Terry Shannon came on for a couple of overs but couldn't force a breakthrough on the slow pitch and Dave was unlucky to have a catch put down at his end. Devonshire by now had edged into a winning position and at 90 for 6 with only three overs left, looked certain to get the victory. Dave Partridge returned to the bowling and immediately clean bowled the no.8 to put the oppo on 91 for 7, only 7 runs short of victory. In the penultimate over, Dave Robotham played a blinder, having the no.5 batsman superbly caught by Fletch at silly mid on and then trapping the new batsman LBW 2 balls later to have Devonshire reeling at 93 for 9. With 1 over left, all three results were possible as devonshire needed 4 runs for victory and we needed 1 wicket. With Dave Partridge bravely bowling and the field all over the show in an attempt to take the wicket and yet defend the boundarys, the first ball was a dot. The second a scrambled single, followed by three more dots. On the last ball, with three required, another scrambled single and with the skipper screaming for the ball to get into the stumps Park had scraped a nailbiting draw. Devonshire finishing on 95 for 9.

A really dramatic finish to a game played in very friendly fashion. Park really should have won this game and were unlucky in the batting to suffer a couple of freaky dismissals, and put three catches down in the field but all in all it was a good game played in the right spirit although doing nothing for the Skippers and watching Chairmans nerves.

There were some outstanding bowling performances today, from Paul Moss and Dave Partridge, but Dave Robothams superb return stands out from the crowd and wins him the MOM.

A better showing this week with Alan Whaley, Connie Ewin, John Ling and Wendy Hearn and the kids all showing up for some portion of the game, but only Daniel Robotham put in the full ninety minutes.