Champs All Out 125 (25 Overs) vs SPA2 8/126 (21.2 Overs)
SPA 2 won by 2 wickets. 

A Sunday AM game ......no confusion this week........... at Fernvale B - a not very happy hunting ground for the Champs.

..............and being a Sunday AM game, and being post the Presidents farewell drinks, the early start almost proved to be too much for a couple of the Champs squad who are  developing a bit of a reputation for their tardy on-time performance . But no names mentioned Will and Phil the Younger! 

The skipper just arriving in time for the toss having patiently waited while Younger had a shave and attempted to shake off the effects of the previous night - it has to be said he was not a pretty sight...........but more on that later. 

Toss - Won, difficult decision but......- "we'll have a bat". 

A subdued but safe start from Rev and Forday G took the score to 22 before Geoff went (caught) and was followed shortly after by Rev whose stumps were shattered with the score at 26. Josh and Chiro (top score of 35)  put on a solid 40 run partnership before Josh was adjudged run-out and from that point on, apart from a brief cameo from Will (19 off 19) it was all downhill. 

Will holing out at mid-on for the umpteen time this season just when he looked like he was in the groove, the skipper being adjudged LBW a similar amount of times and the less said about the rest the better. Champs all out 125 - a promising drinks position of 4 for 75 dwindling away to a disappointing 125 and only 25 overs needing to be bowled. 

It is rare that one of the highlights of a batting session could be the umpiring but a special mention to Phil the Younger, who despite his horrible condition kindly volunteered to stand at square leg for the first 10 overs. In the process making some crucial no-ball calls and staking out his patch of turf at Fernvale with a permanent marker - Younger the chunderer! 

Afternoon tea was a pleasure apart from the brief interruption as Phil The Younger decided to continue to mark out his territory near the deep mid wicket boundary rope area! 

So in to field  - tough score to defend but the Champs were determined to get off to a solid start, try and squeeze the scoring rate to put some pressure on SPA2 and , in this game, anything can happen.

The start probably wasn't what was anticipated and an early wicket (bowled Munib (2/35) to a beauty brought "the thrasher" to the crease and suddenly 1 for 14 in the 2nd over had become 2 for 41 in only the 4th over and SPA2 were off to a flyer! Nothing wrong with the bowling but a guy who was willing to chance his arm was swinging hard and if it continued on the game was as good as over. 

A quick bowling change with Rev and John Dick being brought into the attack and suddenly the game began to turn. With Rev (3 for 25 off 6) bowling the best line and length he had been able to manage for a few weeks and John (2/20 off 6) being his usual frugal self spearing in his left arm darts. The result being that wickets began to fall and when the 8th wicket fell for 92 in the 15th over it was game on. 

The bowling was well supported by a solid effort in the field and if a couple of close calls had gone the way of the Champs the end result could have been much different. Will secured a run-out , using his lethargic fielding style as he meandered in the outfield to suck the batsmen in to chance a 2nd - gone! Chiro, John and Will (catching sight of the ball just in time) all picking up catches and only one very tough chance being put down for the day.  

However, again it was not be and the Champs finishing agonizingly close to their 2nd win of the season. 

Man of the Match - Phil "The Younger"........a second ball blob missing a straight one (pack the kit) and 7 spews! 

This week it's vs Colonial on Saturday 30th AM (0800 ... BE THERE BY 0730!!!!) at CSC.

Cheers Steve