RCC U11B on wrong end of final over thriller against NPL

Leon Hadjipeteras came to the wicket wearing a white base layer, cricket shirt and jumper on the hottest day of the year so far. He was hot. Very hot. But more of that very shortly.

RCC U11B suffered a top order collapse which many teams would have struggled to cope with. A mix up on the first ball left Lachlan stranded and run out. Leo looked sheepish but in truth it was “six of one half a dozen of the other” – all the lads can improve their calling. The NPL bowling was straight and both Rhys and Felix were bowled. Leo was holding things together as the wickets tumbled. Leon meanwhile was trying to decide whether to discard the thick woolly jumper or not. “It has dropped below 22 degrees now Leon you ought to be able to risk it” advised Jon ; so he came to the wicket in just the short sleeved jumper (with base layer to be on the safe side – he had plans to be out there a while). He set about compiling a beautifully crafted forty seven at which point some heartless fool wearing a maroon Richmond CC shirt with “coach” on the back decided to retire him. “keep your pads on son” was the instruction.

Thomas, Joe, Jon and Ralph compiled runs quickly in the last couple of overs and with one ball of the innings left Jon graciously (with a little encouragement from the aforementioned maroon clad coach – MCC ...brilliant ) made way for Leon. Nobody not even the MCC was going to deny him his 50 as he crashed the last ball of the innings through the covers toward the enthralled crowd that had gathered by the pavilion. 51 not out including 8 fours. The MCC nonchalantly brushed aside a bead of sweat from his forehead and sighed heavily...phew!

Whilst RCC U11B had Leon...NPL had Jamie – and would you believe it but another fantastic knock followed in the NPL innings – RCC U11B just couldn’t shift him and so it was that it came down to the last over of the innings bowled by Leo with 7 runs needed – a wicket (but not Jamie) a single, a four... and then finally he fell; bowled. Two balls left – the boys were all in to save the single but the new batsman drove straight to give NPL the victory.

So more entertainment in our T20 than Middlesex managed on Sunday – I’ve told the lads they should be proud of themselves – 2 3/4 hours of non-stop fun; of course they were downhearted; these lads care.

words from Neil Wharton