One week we will make maybe one change. It's hard to keep up with who has played and who isn't. Bottom line, good eleven. With Freddie back behind the stumps Spavo's wedding season done, things looked more settled.
Dan won and bowled: shock. Wiggy was as excellent as ever, Greeny threatening and a couple of early wickets all smartly caught behind. Wiggy's accuracy and rhythm have clicked this year and his wickets tally reflects that. With no Fishy (still cider testing), those middle overs where limiting runs is as important as wickets are key, Dan turned to Matty Brayne. His wickets tally less full than his colleagues this year but he has bowled some excellent spells and when an early chance went down, it had "not again" written all over his spell.
Hot day and some slack fielding from a couple of players meant runs were steadily rising. Kam replaced Wiggy after 9 overs taking 2 for 33. Kam has had a magic ball that opens up an end but he'd left these at home with his suit and his lunch and Dan replaced him. In/out field and good cricket from Bowdon with lots of singles but the skipper and Brayno stuck to their guns and bowled well both taking 2 wickets each at 4. Pretty good on the flattest of decks. With Brayno done there were 3 overs required and rather than put pace on the ball, Archie Riley was tasked with death bowling...t20 style. He's been a key player in the two t20s and proved his worth again. No boundaries and a wicket to boot.
Freddie behind the stumps was excellent. Much less leaden footed than last season with great feet too: very tidy 'keeping display.
Bowdon dismissed for 219. Chaseable but it could have been 200 had some of the fielding been (miles) better.
Having a team of all rounders is great but it's also hard to keep everyone happy and in form. Dan shuffled things up and Spavo (37) opened with Griff who was uncharacteristically dismissed for only 13. He's been superb this season but bot umpire and Spavo at the other end said "Good nut that" or some such. Joe in at 3. He has been many things but as the main leggie, he has flourished. He is a dismisser of poor balls. His mid-wicket dominated wagon-wheel showed his power as he raced to another 50. Spavo's impressive start was curtailed when he succumbed quickly followed by Archie who was well caught. Kam joined Joe and they put the game to bed. Kam is a good batter who has impressed each time he has batted and he deserved his chance. He was staging his own 'shot of the day' competition simultaneously with his 'hold the pose' contest. Great to watch as he drove through cover superbly and planted a 6 down the ground. Joe's bludgeoning innings not as aesthetically pleasing as Kam's but just as effective. But he was caught behind agonisingly short of a maiden 2s hundred on 96. Well played. Kam finished things with 50 not out alongside Freddie who was 5 not out.
A fine day's work. And Didsbury drew so top of the league. The selection Merry-go-Round will spin again and another 11 will head to Cheadle next week looking for an 11th win.
MotM - Joe for his knock (not his fielding).
DotD - Stephen Ogilby who fielded in trainers and nipped to Tommy's for a nap. He had got the early train back from Edinburgh to play though and for that we were very grateful.