17th September - Hayes Hurricanes - League  

The day of reckoning dawned - could we go unbeaten in the League this season, or would Hayes gain revenge? On a glorious Indian summer of a Sunday, there was only one way to find out. Winning the toss (at last!), Hayes, who welcomed back Lindsey Askew from England duty, were inserted. Barts and Radhi Nanalal were given the new ball to share, and sure enough, things could not have got off to a better start when Radhi bowled Lindsey with her third ball. If there's one thing that never ceases to delight Radhi, it's bowling good batsmen round their legs, whilst they try and sweep her. 3 for 1 after 2 overs. Not to be outdone, Barts produced a snorter of a ball and Meobs took a regulation catch behind. 4 for 2 from 4 overs. Barts was really steamed up now and bowling with control that had been lacking in the last Hayes game - she had Lydia Greenway, who played so majestically in the corresponding fixture, playing and missing and it was no surprise when she bowled Robin Still in her 3rd over and quickly followed it up with another wicket in her 4th over. 8 for 4 from 7 overs. Tails up, heads down - a tale of two cities, so to speak. Radhi was toiling away at her end, and was rewarded, eventually with another 'bowled round the legs' dismissal to have Hayes almost on their knees at 24 for 5.

A period of consolidation was needed from Hayes, and sure enough, Lydia set about dragging them back into the game, showing just what a player she is. The Gunns fielding was looking sharp and focused - Sue Donaldson sprinting after everything, Chander diving at things - hopefully a taste of things to come. Gradually Hayes came back into the game, but that soon changed with the introduction of Stockie - does she love bowling to left handers or what? Sure enough, first ball of her second over, Lyds edged to Meobs, and to her credit walked, as the umpire was unsure. It is so refreshing to see a young player showing such honesty. Stockie was rewarded a couple of overs later, when Binaisha Shah took a well judged catch at mid on, to get rid of Masters. Another change of bowling saw Danni come on and she bowled with discipline to pick up the remaining couple of wickets.

A target of 90 might seem easy, but, sometimes it is more difficult to chase down small targets. Sue and Beth walked out to the middle, confident that all they had to do, was wait for the bad ball, and pick up the singles as they came - no pressure about run rate, this was all about scoring one more run than Hayes. However, not having fully read the script, Beth wafted at a straight one and heard the sickening sound of her bails being dislodged. In walked Meobs, in defiant mood and together the pair looked comfortable before disaster struck - Sue was bowled on the 7th ball of the over - how annoying is that? Chander strolled out - she has looked increasingly more and more like the batsman who terrorised international bolwers, as the season has progressed, and sure enough, the pair of them started to take control. Meobs was playing a sensible innings for the most part, and things were looking good. Until a great catch, running back from mid off, and taking the ball at full pace, over her shoulder, Masters held on to see Meobs dismissed.

Barts joined Chander, and the pair got back to business. For someone so small, Chander generates so much power - it really is a pleasure to watch her. It wasn't such a pleasure when she played a full blooded straight drive at ankle height, off Lydia's bowling. We were all looking at the boundary rope to ripple, but Lyd had other ideas. Showing just why she is rated as one of the best fielders in the world, not just England, she threw herself to the ground and unbelievably held on to the ball - her fingers must still be stinging. Things then took a slight turn for the worst. With less than 30 needed, and 5 wickets and 20 overs in hand, it should have been all done and dusted. However, Hayes were banking on picking up wickets, and were bowling out their top 4 bowlers. As the wickets began to fall, the nerves began to creep in. Helena Stolle looked calm and settled, after her match winning performance in the earlier fixture, until she gave a regulation catch to Lyds. Stockie was now in the middle with Emma Jones, but the partnership lasted just one ball, before Em was adjudged LBW. Far be it from me to cast aspersions on decisions, but from every angle it did seem a little unfair. Especially as there was a fair amount of bat involved. Anyway, with 14 needed, Danni walked out to join Stockie - her batting really has come on this season and she has been there at the end of two of our closest games - the Mote and Hayes; no need to worry. Wrong. Inexplicitly, she missed the straight one. 3 wickets had fallen with the score still on 77 - surely it wouldn't be a case of so near and yet so far? We needn't have worried. Radhi walked out to join her fellow spin twin - as long as she didn't let the ball hit her pads, we'd be alright. With only 3 balls to face in the over, she managed to negotiate them. A 4 in the next over, saw our target reduced to single figures, but that left Radhi to face another over. A 2 off the first ball settled the nerves a little and we nervously watched the remaining balls. Two were collected a long way down leg side by the keeper, much to Meobs disgust - she wanted them to be called wide, but we knew better - lets get the over finished and Stockie on strike.

7 needed, 1 over to see off before the recognised bowlers had been bowled out. Stockie, taking a leaf out of Steve Waugh's book of batting, took a single from he first ball - show faith in your lower order batsmen and they'll respond. Sure enough, Radhi repaid the belief - well I'm sure she would have done, had Stockie not called her for a quick bye on the next ball! Stockie's not had a lot to do batting wise this season, but every time she's walked out to the middle this season, it's either been with loads on the board or in a bit of a potential crisis. Each time she has read and risen to the occasion - sure enough it was today. Lindsey Askew was bowling - having been selected for England as a bowler, but with so few runs to play with and facing a calm, controlled Stockie, there would only be one winner. Sure enough one ball was over pitched and driven sweetly for 4, this was followed up with a short pitched delivery, which was dispatched with distain to the boundary for the winning runs. The oldies were there at the death - age and experience can't be beaten, however, it really has been an all round effort this season - 4 different players scoring centuries, 6 more scoring 50 plus (including one 98 and one 99), every bowler used taking a wicket, players coming up from the 2's and taking their opportunities with both hands. The fielding has had its ups and downs, but the way we finished this game shows that if we can build on the improvements next season, we are good enough to stay up in the Premier League.

On paper, it might look like we've strolled through this season - 11 games, 11 victories, but the truth is, we will need to up our game even more next year - having had the opportunity to regain a bit of confidence, I'm sure we're all licking our lips in anticipation for the coming battles - this attitude is summed up best by the sight of Radhi arms pumping as she takes the wicket of yet another England player young enough to be her daughter, but not quite good enough to know how to face her. Well done girls and congratulations to Beth for steering us back into the top flight in her first year in charge - even if you did leave us mid season to play against India!! Here's to next year.