First let's wrap up the Twenty20 season. After gloriously qualifying for the Finals Day in the dark we eagerly anticipated the semi final against Rushale. Turning up at Thornton Cleveleys CC, who had kindly loaned us their ground for the day, we were greeted by drizzle. This seemed to encapsulate the entire summer which had been a washout. However with no 1st team games left, the groundsman was happy for us to play the tournament and so at 11am we started proceedings. I lost the toss (as usual) and we were asked to bat first. How would our fragile batting order cope with the potential onslaught off the Fleetwood Express of Sam Bury? Quite well actually with 3 players reaching the 25* retirement mark and we were happily scoring at a respectable run rate for a change. With the middle order ordered to get in and get out to enable the retired batsmen to get back in, all was going to plan, the middle order promptly hit out and with only the last pair at the crease it looked like our top order would be firing on all cylinders again. However our last pair couldn't get out, even when standing aside from the wicket! So our final total of 120/7, whilst being respectable in the context of our season, felt short in the context of the match situation.
Rushale started batting well with all rounder Sam Bury reaching the retirement mark, but then our bowling and fielding reached new heights, ripping through the Rushale order, clean bowling, direct hit run outs, one handed diving catches the lot! We were cruising to victory and even though Sam had returned to the crease we only required one more wicket with 4 overs to go. But Sam was grinding away and opportunities were missed meaning we entere the final over with only 2 runs required for Rushale to snatch victory. It took them 3 balls to do it and since the scoreboard had been kept incorrectly confusion reigned at the end but a thrilling game came to an end and we were agonisingly short. Both teams were applauded off the field and we received many kind comments from the other two teams and spectators that we had performed well and were unlucky not to win the match.
Whilst we had lost at the one stage where you never really want to, I am pleased that having dragged ourselves into the Finals Day we showed that we could perform well. Here's the scorecard link and an amusing photo of a sign Stu found!As for the first team the end of season was even more spectacular. After the Blackpool draw we went to Fleetwood on a gloriously sunny day for once and managed to win, then pooped round to catch the end of Thornton v St Annes where Thornton could only draw, meaning the title race was back in our hands. We had a double header that weekend playing Baxi at Fleetwood's main ground, who had kindly offered us their pitch to use as Baxi's ground was unavailable. However the skies were ominous and we set to trying to bowl them out. I was in the zone getting their opener out cheaply and then producing 3 more clear catch chances which were put down, very annoying! But then the heavens opened and ended the contest. So a rain draw meant we had to go to Preston on the final weekend of the season and win to take the title. Anything less and Thornton could claim it with a win at home to Comrades.
As with the end of season match last year at Preston we arrived at a humid ground. Preston IV were put into bat and I managed to take the early wicket of Jonty Mcdonald again like last year. This set me on the road to taking my first 5 wicket haul of the year (the target I set myself at the start if the match to get 30 wickets in the season). All was going well and we reduced Preston to 81/9. However their number 10 proceeded to smash us to all parts in the final 15 overs amassing 70 not out and setting a total of 149 all out, hmmm.... Our batsmen set about the run chase well, with good contributions from the top order getting us to 125/4, but then on came Jonty who proceeded to bowl rather quickly and rip out our middle order. I managed to face 4 balls which I didn't really see before being bowled by the fifth even though I tried to close the angle by coming down the pitch. Scott and Snape put on a valiant last wicket stand but we came up 13 agonising runs short. Thornton had won against Comrades and so snatched the title at the death.
However in the aftermath of the match, it turned out that two of the Preston team were 1st teamers from the Northern League. This fact changed the complexion of our game, and even though people may say we should have won anyway, the fact that Preston chose to try and hide the first team bowler and batter by bringing them into the game late shows what poor sports they were being. Coincidentally these two players were brothers and it had the feel of a family day out jolly for them, with their family watching from the side and haveing an end of season knock about in a lower league to massage their egos. This totally ruined what had been a fanastic battle for the FCL all season. It was decided to lodge a complaint about their use of illegal players, which came out in our favour and we were handed the points and thus the title. Hilariously Preston had tried to claim the batsmen Pip McDonald was in fact Pete Mcdonald, a totally ficticious person!! They should have got their lies worked out before meeting with the FCl committee... Whilst nobody wants to in this way, we felt cheated having done nothing wrong. Thornton were obviously upset but should direct their annoyance with Preston for cheating. The aftermath has been rather messy with lots of chat on our websote guestbook and Thornton have left for another division. They actually applied for this other league in June so it is a shame they never intended to stay.
So the 2007 season ended on a strange note. However personally I am happy we got to the 2020 Finals Day and that I took 30 wickets. Next season 35 and a better batting average! It looks like the FCL are also going to implement some rule changes so the nonsense of illegal players can be stamped out and hopefully the 2008 season will be just as competitive, but far more sporting. Here's to next summer, hopefully a sunny one!
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