SJFCC vs Killigrew

SJFCC vs Killigrew
2006-07-20. Win by 2 wkts By Chris Williams

Result: July 20th: Killigrew 149 for 3 from 20 overs; SJFCC 150 for 8 from 19 overs

After three straight defeats, Fishers got back to winning ways in a really tight game against Killigrew dads. Things did not look too promising when Killigrew batted first. Their two openers went for absolutely everything and got away with it too. One of them was a certain James Rosson who has worn the Fishers colours with valour in the past. Killigrew’s batting was excellent and all their first three batsmen retired with 38, 29 and 26 respectively. The pitch at Greenwood Park was a really fast outfield, but that didn’t always matter as many shots cleared the boundary with ease. Fishers were powerless to stop the scoring until Reevo (7th bowler used) came on and bowled a really tight spell (0-8). This was followed up by Dan who finally took our first wicket with a caught & bowled in the 17th over. He followed this up with another caught & bowled next ball and finished with excellent figures of 2-8.

Mind you, he owed us this since he had turned up half an hour late, fed his son Conor an entire picnic and slapped on 36 litres of sun cream before deigning to join us in the field. Killigrew final score off 20 overs: 149-3 ouch!

So at the halfway stage things did not look too promising. We had been carted round the outfield in 30 degree heat and needed to score at 7.5 runs per over to win. However, cometh the hour, cometh the team effort. Knowing we need a fast start, I was put down the order (after top scoring the previous game!) so that Simon and Reevo could wield the willow. Wield it they did! Simon played a cultured knock while Reevo crashed some quick runs at the other end. Reevo was bowled for 20 when the score was 31, and then John King, Dave and Bungle all crashed a boundary before getting out. Andrew then also pushed the score along with 16, and at the halfway stage we were up with the rate on 75 but had lost 5 wickets. Simon eventually went caught behind for 21, but Dan then came in to play his innings of the season.

Not needing to move his feet, he smashed 32 in double quick time before he retired. So effective had he been that we needed only 28 off the last 5 overs. Matt scored a few quick runs before going to a brilliant catch and it was left to the two old timers, Williams and Sandsy to see the Fishers home with Bob padded up if needed. However, this was not straight-forward, as Killigrew had left James Rosson to bowl out the game for them. Off a few yards he generated some good pace and only 4 came from his first over. Sandsy then faced his second over. It was a case of master versus apprentice! Sandsy was full of compliments for Rosson’s bowling, proceeded to nick one for 4 past the wicket keeper, and then smashed a beauty through the covers to seal the game for the Fishers with one over to spare.

So, an excellent result with a solid all-round batting effort to chase down 150 to win! A good night was finished off with sausage, chips and beer in the Three Hammers!!

Man of the match: Excellent batting from Simon and a good all-round contribution from Reevo, but without doubt the award goes to Dan for his spell of 2-8 and 32 runs.