W-W-W-W

My last report of the season, and its my absolute pleasure writing it knowing that we have secured our division 4 status with two games to go. 8 wins in the season is not a bad effort at all.
Ive been asked to put some more songs in to the match report, lets see how many i can, but my musical knowledge is not great.
Winning the toss and electing to bowl has been the winning formula for us over the last few weeks, so the omens were good when Karl put Barkby in to bat, and opened up the bowling with himself and little bruv Joe.
their opening pair looked like they were going to play their shots "again and again", and runs were coming quickly. Hawker jnr made the first breakthrough, hitting the top of off when Wood was deceived into playing a pull shot and missing.
Niffy were being given the "runaround" at this time and it looked like a big run chase was going to be on the cards. Matt and gibbo entered the fray, and soon made inroads into the Barkby batting order. Gibbo bowling Hollis behind his legs with a viciously turning wrong-un. The dangerous Shorocha was then unable to pick a McDonald slower ball (rank full toss), which he hit straight to Joe at mid-on.
Tebatt and Moore started to rebuild, and were looking like pushing their side towards a decent total, until the game turned on its head. With Matt finished and James Hunt into the action, the 31st over of the game became one of the most memorable overs ive experienced. Everyone knows that drinks brings a wicket. usually. sometimes. Anyway, there are "three reasons" for this, and although they werent "three of a kind", James really should have issued a "three minute warning" before this over. First ball after drinks, Tebatt L.B.W. next ball, Turner caught behind. He was adamant he didnt hit and refused to leave the crease, but as their skipper said, it was either a knick, or a tree fell down somewhere! Then with the fielders closing in, James was "under pressure" to deliver. And deliver he did, trapping Pook L.B.W when he went back and across. "three steps to heaven" for James and the Niffy, and a definite " three minute hero".
With skipper Moore going well at the other end, surely the other batsman would be looking to support him. and then came another moment. "do you believe in magic"? you should. Firstly, Moore was dropped at long-on. un-deterred, Gibbo then ripped through the defenses of Smithard, clean bowling him, and then just to prove that magic deliveries are not just a one-off, clean bowled Pick with the next bowl. A nearly hat-trick, but "two out of three aint bad".
The last two wickets followed swiftly, Lever being stumped (run out) off James, and Joe catching Barcha off his own bowling. 148 all out was a really good effort when it looked like we were going to be chasing a big total.

The cakes were amazeballs. OMG, i cant believe i had to bat at 3, as there was so much to pick from. all home made, all featuring masses of icing and fresh cream.

Anyway, back to the run chase. Tom and Degs got us off to a great start, flaying the ball to all parts and looked to be cruising to an easy victory, with a nice 60 run opening partnership. biggest of the season maybe??? Tom was the first to go, looking to smash the ball over long-on, but getting under it a bit too much and getting caught. Rich joined Degs, and continued to watch Degs batting imperiously, bringing up his 50 with ease and pushing on to 66 before playing on to one that kept a little low, finishing the second 50+ partnership of the innings.
Easy?? we never like to do things the easy way.
Rich was the next to go. after a comfortable 25, instead of pulling the ball for 6, decided to hit straight at the short mid-wicket. Quickly followed by Matt who was bowled by Moore. And it was Moore that dismissed Will caught behind, and then caught and bowled Waggy as well to really put the jitters into the niffy.
James came in and was playing some nice shots, but wickets continued to fall down the other end. Tom run out without scoring, quickly followed by Joe who walked on a LBW shout.
With 20 odd runs required, Captain Karl walked to the crease, and after playing and missing for an over, just to build the tension, clicked into hero mode. Smashing a six over midwicket and a four to the same error. down the other end, it was James who finished off his MOM performance with a lovely cover drive to the boundary to bring up the win. Four on the bounce for the Niffy, and with Harbro not bothering to turn up at Cosby, our Div 4 status was confirmed.
Its been a pleasure guys, and i'm looking forward to reading the report of another Niffy win next week!