With Great Power

Comes great responsibility...

The Reserve Roving Reporter was nervous. Selected for the "home" Friendly side as keeper with the main Roving Reporter over at Laughton and Mowsley with the "away" friendly side.

Was I up for the task and replace Will "Jenno" Jennings?

Shall we compare?

Age? - One starts with a 4, the other just about a 3 so the reserve possibly edges this one.

Handsomness? - both Mrs S and Mrs J were approached for comment but declined but we can put this one down as a solid draw.

Cricketing ability? - shall we move on?

Lets.

Braybrooke were visitors. When we went to them 6 weeks ago, Mandeep and Dunkers went big and a big target was set, before Braybrooke just had enough to get themselves over the line. More boundaries were breached than in a country with poor border controls.

But this game was different. It was at Fleckney.

Skipper Scott won the toss, Fleckney bat. Same as before. Mandeep and Dunkers waltz to the crease. Same as before.

After two overs the score was 0/0 and everyone was bored. Heckles could be heard from the stands. 26 balls later and the score was 52/0.

Mandeep went into full Mandeep mode, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, a fifty quickly secured before one shot too many and a departure for 65. We can blame Nelson for this as it fell on 111.

Will Bale joined Dunkers and added 17 before he himself gave a catch.

At drinks the score was 150 and Michael Dunkley had a 50.

The fun continued and Michael moved onto a 100, because it's a Sunday and that's just what happens.

He came in at 218/2 and everyone else followed a few moments later as the first rain shower hit.

40 overs a side became 35 and we got back out there. Yakesh (21) and Chris Hill (38) added more runs, Mole decided to half his average for the season and it was left to Seth and Sam Hill to see the innings out.

Braybrooke would need 271 off 35 overs to take the "win" back across the border.

Scott and Sam were the bowlers who took the new cherry, the matrix was broken as Scott didn't pick up a wicket - I know, I know, we were stunned. Sam did though.

Braybrooke made a steady start. Seth came on and picked up a wicket so subtle that only the wicket keeper appealed for - the batter walked, a true gent that man. Seth got another, Yakesh got 3 as runs were scored, partnerships were made but then broken. Sam Hill, Scooter, and Dunkers all took catches.

A couple of showers meant we went off for one and played through the other. At one stage we had a double rainbow. Which was pretty cool.

With 5 overs remaining, Braybrooke needed 65. Big numbers, but a familiar feeling starting to creep over anyone who played the game at Braybrooke earlier in the season.

Braybrooke's big hitter retired on 100 but Euan Hackett was in - a man who can hit a very long ball. 4 and 6s were hit and 32 was needed with 2 left.

Go big or go home is the cliche. Euan went big. 20 was hit and so the scenario was 12 off 6.

Mandeep's first ball is probably still travelling - a huge 6.

6 off 5 - the pendulum surely had swung Braybrooke's way.

A yorker and Euan's stumps were pegged back and then a couple of byes meant that 4 was needed off the last 2 balls. Mandeep pitched it just back off a length, the batter clipped it over Dunkers.. but wait, our centurian leapt like a salmon and stuck out a hand and held on. A HUGE moment and it meant that Braybrooke had to hit the last ball of the match to the ropes to win the game.

Mandeep bowled another one full and true and the stumps were pegged back again.

Fleckney win. By the barest of bare margins...

https://fleckney.play-cricket.com/website/results/6675945