Sixes Invitational, Saturday 25 June 2011
Overnight rain pushed the start of the 2011 Sixes Tournament back by half an hour. It also meant that overs were reduced by one ball, to five ball overs. Despite the damp conditions and soggy outfield East Meon decided to bat first against the Brigands in the Tournaments opening fixture. Captained by Chris Moor, East Meon stormed to a respectable XX-3 off their five overs. The Brigands started well, and looked to be on course for a victory, before a great last over by Jeff Wheeler restricted the scoring. Nonetheless, one run was needed off the last ball to win, but Jeff kept a cool head, the batsman played and missed, and Oli Atkinson, behind the stumps, completed the run out to tie the match. All very exciting.
As the day wears on and sun comes out the permutations in East Meon’s pool become very interesting. Going in to the last game both East Meon and Brigands have won one and tied one of their matches. It is assumed that the Brigands will beat the Pink Maidens, which will mean that East Meon will have to beat Buriton, and score significantly more than the Brigands did, to proceed to the final.
For much of their game against the Pink Maidens it appears that the Brigands are going to win, and when their most experienced bowler is lining up for the last over, with nine still needed, it seems the momentum is with them. However, he bowls a no-ball, which gives the opposition three runs, and then is slogged for a massive six. Against all expectations, the Pink Maidens have beaten the Brigands. For East Meon this means they have to beat Buriton to get to the final, as the Pink Maidens now top the table with six points to East Meon’s four. It also means that should East Meon lose, they have to score at least 76 to ensure they have a better run rate than the Brigands to get to the third place playoff.
The East Meon boys do their best to lose it, and Webber from Buriton takes a hat-trick in the last over, which halts their run rate somewhat. This means East Meon limp to 50, an eminently gettable target. However, the Buriton charge never really gets out of first gear, and wickets for Will Atkinson, Rupert Hetherington, and Chris Moor ensure that East Meon win comfortably and proceed to the final.
In the other pool, things have been a little more straight-forward, with Jack Tyrwhitt-Drake’s team, the Bereleigh Bandits, cruising past all they play against. Ominously, no team scores more than 40 against them, and they look in good form. The fight for second place, however, is quite exciting; with the other three teams all in with a shout of making it. Eventually it boils down to a straight matchup between Rogate and DACD, two teams with very contrasting anthems, Rogate marching out to Sonny’s Burning by The Birthday Party (early Nick Cave) while DACD plod out to the theme tune to Steptoe & Son. DACD’s tune belies their approach, however, and they rifle past Rogate with conviction to set up a match with the Pink Maidens for third place, which they eventually win, after a hard fought tussle.
Meanwhile, Jack and Mooro toss up for the final and it is decided that East Meon will bat first, same as last year. Having entered the competition in light spirits this year, not intending to win it, East Meon suddenly want to do well and win. It is decided that Dizzy Gillespie and Jeff will open, with Mooro at three, Will at four, Dave Hales at five and Rupert at six.
It starts disastrously, with Dizzy and Jeff failing to trouble the scorers. Mooro manages a few runs, but Will is also dismissed cheaply, and East Meon are quickly struggling. Dave then runs Mooro out, but manages to redeem himself by hitting a few boundaries in the last over. East Meon finish on 46 all out, failing to bat out their overs, a big mistake.
It’s a different game when Bereleigh start and Jack and Turner, after surviving Rupert’s opening over, score with ease. Turner finishes it with an over to spare, slapping Mooro for the biggest six of the day. It is poetic, considering he sponsored the award!
After this it is all a bit chaotic as a speedy presentation ceremony takes place with prizes duly dished out. No-one shows any real inclination to leave, and with the sun shining down in full splendour all seems set for a cracking evening.
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