A few early rain showers on arrival at St Catz did little to
dampen the spirits of Team Zoots, still enjoying the high that only a two match
unbeaten streak can bring. News of the solid all-round performance against the
physicists the week prior had spread like wildfire across Cambridgeshire, and
our opposition were looking more than a little nervous before play*. In a
cunning piece of psychological warfare we stepped up the intimidation with a
superlative display of pre-match overthrow practise right outside the
opposition dressing rooms. Suitably prepared, the Zoots won the toss and
elected to field, another cunning decision that only increased the confusion and
dismay in the opposition camp*. The opposition Captain (Thwaites) was joined by
his Deputy (Linsden) at the crease. Matt ‘Skippy’ Chandler prepared to open the
attack. The tension was palpable. A hushed silence fell.
What unfolded was an unprecedented game of cat and mouse
that will be told and retold over the days, if not weeks to come*. Captain
Thwaites and Deputy Linsden took a solid and traditional if somewhat dry
approach to batting, namely scoring freely and not getting out. “Where’s the
fun in that?” you rightly ask. Skippy Chandler countered with a good line and
length and was unlucky not to remove Captain Thwaites with his bamboozling
trademark slower ball. At the other end, Paul ‘Killiver’ Gilliver had the
captain and his deputy swinging and missing courtesy of impressive late swing
and deceptive pace, but to no avail. The invigilators’ score ticked ominously upwards,
reaching 52 for no loss from 7 overs.
The first bowling change brought in The Surajitator who agitated
the openers with sharp pace and well-concealed variation. At the other end,
Silence of the Lamb, helped by an inspired leg side fielding change by Captain
Snickers and an athletic forward diving catch by Gravy Train ‘Beef’ Grady,
secured the valuable scalp of Deputy Linsden, who had scored an impressive 59.
Captain Snickers sensed fear in the opposition, now floundering at 1 for 97 from
13, and in a decisive move brought himself and Benny 'Ball' Jarrett into the
bowling attack. This proved to be yet another outstanding piece of captaincy as
the new batsman edged a deceptive ball from the skipper and fell to a sharp catch
by Benny Ball in the gully. The depth of bowling in the Zoots line-up no doubt
surprised the opposition as the on-loan Dave ‘on-loan’ Sloan was brought into
the attack. On-loan Sloan delivered a couple of tidy overs to close out the
innings, frustrating Captain Thwaites and leaving Zoots with an eminently
gettable 155 for victory.
Captain Snickers, always one step ahead of the opposition,
sent in the opening pair of Butterfingers Rutter and the Gravy Train ‘Beef’
Grady, a move that perplexed the opposition who were expecting the now infamous
Bambi/Bollywood opening pair. The move paid off. Rutterfingers and the Grady
Train stormed to a well-executed 26 before Rutterfingers, adhering to the team
strategy, sacrificed his wicket on 8, allowing the ferocious Bambi to take to
the now demoralised opening bowlers*. Meanwhile, at the other end, Beef Grady
played with characteristic flair, pulling and hooking his way to a quick-fire
17, before making way for Bollywood Kumar.
There is little doubt that in the years ahead, commentators
and analysts looking back on this match will agree that this was the turning
point in the game. At 2 for 36 off 6 overs, and requiring only a further 119
for victory, the Zoots were in the driving seat and the opposition were in
disarray*. Unfortunately, the batting never quite settled under fairly
relentless pressure from an accurate bowling attack. Bambi was out on 10 to a
classic caught behind, and not long after Cap’n Snickers was also out caught
for 6. Bollywood Kumar showed his usual tenacity to reach 28 including four stylish
boundaries. On-loan Sloan (9), Silence (16) and Benny Ball (12) made modest
contributions but never quite settled at the crease. Killiver Gilliver and
Skippy Chandler saw out the remaining overs, each scoring a determined 3 not
out, and taking the Zoots' total to a respectable 9 for 121 from 20 overs.
So, despite a dogged, fighting performance we fell some way short
of the 155 required for victory, but nonetheless it was a solid team effort by
the Zoots against last year's champions.
* This account may bear only passing resemblance to actual
events
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