Ottershaw & Hamm Moor

This fixture has matured in recent years to become a nicely-matched contest between two teams with flashes of talent, a reasonably keen desire to win and a very mixed age range on both sides. Today’s match, played in glorious sunshine, produced a minor classic.

Gilly and Paul set off in fine style, bashing 24 runs off the first three overs and reaching 45 without loss. Brian played with more freedom than usual, cracking six fours in his half century; Andy Sharples and Steve McCormack both pushed the score along briskly and Tim Maby hit a commendable 13 at number seven. A total just over 200 is nothing extraordinary, but in a timed game, we knew they’d have to push a bit to get there.

Dean and Gilly kept their opening batsmen well below the asking rate and when, after 20 overs, they had only reached 91 for three, victory had pretty much eluded them. But could we skittle the rest? In a tense final half hour we took their fifth, sixth and seventh wicket, but couldn’t quite finish the job. Great match anyway and the balmy late afternoon sight of a cricket pitch fringed by ancient woodland is dreamy.