I Dont Like Cricket - I love it!

Its not often i say this, but i have to say, for a game played without league umpires and a contentious decision for each team, i thought it was a game played in a fantastic spirit.
Right. to the action. Get a Bonnie Tyler CD (no, i dont mean crossdresser) ready, and settle yourself in for a gripping contest.
On a hot day, both teams wanted to bat first, but unfortunately, Kibworth won the toss and got the honour. And it looked like it was going to be a repeat of the 1st match against them when fortunately Greenhalgh smashed Matt to Pops at square leg for a stinging catch. 26-1 in the 4th over became 63-1 in the 11th over, which is when the Niffy bowlers started to get on top. With Matt and Ash finding their rhythm, runs started to dry up, and pressure mount. It was the introduction of Skip that brought the next breakthrough though, finding the edge of Patel for nick to take a good one handed catch in the gully. Skip also took the wicket of opposing skipper Boucher, LBW for 34. before Gibbo, replacing Ash, got in on the act, havin Mathew caught at mid-wicket by Ash. It was Gibbo again with the next wicket, Broughton caught on the square leg boundary by Matt. And then it was the Hawker show. Karl Hawker. Have i mentioned that Joe Hawker dropped out late on thursday because he needed to get his nails done????
First of all, Karl bowled Waghela although, judging by appeal he would have preferred an LBW. Then he had batsman Lodge caught at mid-on by Matt and bowler Lodge caught at the crease by Rich. A 5-for for Karl, thoroughly well deserved, and in my opinion, the match winning performance. Before Karl's 5th, Gibbo got another, caught by Hayden at mid-on, and then Matt wrapped up the innings getting Messenger caught at mid-off by Hayden. 141 all out, with 3 overs spare. only the second time we have taken al 10 wickets in a match this season.
Our new opening partnership of Will and Hayden was full of attacking promise, up against the pace of Lodge, and the accuracy of Messenger. It was Hayden who took the early initiative, with a lofted straight drive just landing short of the boundary, and then driving 3 consecutive 4's off Lodge. Lodge got his revenge in the next over though, with Hayden fending off a bouncer and getting caught, 23-1. this became 27-1 quickly, when Will was undone by a ball that cut back in.
Matt and Dave started to build a partnership then, with Matt playing a couple of lovely over drives, and Dave smashing Lodge through the covers, before using his pace to run the ball through gully for a four. Matt was next to fall, trying to drive at a wide ball, getting caught at 1st slip. 56-3, then became 70-4. Dave smashed a big straight six over the sightscreen, and when he tried to do the same off the spinner, holed out at wide mid-on.
Then came the defining partnership, with Rich and Ash adding 62. Rich led the way early on, hitting spinner patel over mid-off and cover for consecutive fours (as well as through the slips for 4), and then flicking one off his legs for four (trademark shot), and hooking Lodge for another four. then Ash took over, hitting a number of 2's before hitting a lovely lofted straight drive for four, and an extremely well timed cover drive for four. 132-4, surely this game was in the bag.?
Kibworth, thinking the game was as good as over, brought on Greenhalgh, a little dibbly dobbly bowler, and this proved to be a dramatic turning point. Rich attempting to draw the game to a swift conclusion was caught at long-on. What followed next, was sheer madness.
Dan was caught on the cow boundary, Pops was bowled, Nick was caught on the long-on boundary and Ash was caught and bowled. All with the score on 132. five wickets for 0 runs!! surely not Cosby all over again.
press play on CD now
Where had all the good men gone, and where are all the gods. where's the street-wise Hercules to fight the rising odds. Isnt there a white knight upon a fiery steed............. oh yes. there damn sure is!
Striding to the crease came Captain Karl. Magnificently supported by Gibbo.
On twitter, we are called "the church of the cover drive". That needs to be struck off now and replaced. Surely there has never been a more beautiful sight than captain Karl elegantly butchering a sweep off middle stump through square leg for four. not just once, but twice. both timed to perfection, both riding a fiery steed to the fence on the longest boundary. Karl, the street-wise Hercules had fought against the rising odds and won, leading his team to a much needed victory.