A thrilling end to a match that went down to the last ball brought victory for the Zamis, moving ahead of opponents VRA1 to go top of the pool four table. And it was partly thanks to another century from Harold – his second this season – along with some heroic fielding by Wouter.
On warm day that for once had no threat of rain, we knew that this was a top-of-the-table clash requiring a great start. So the two centurions from previous games, Harold and Kaushal, opening the batting. Two fours and a six in the first three overs from King Harold kept the scoreboard moving north before VRA1’s bowlers and fielders got into their game. Kaushal was caught on 13 in the ninth over, bringing in Auke, who was caught in the 13th.
In comes John, determined to beat the 22 high score emblazoned on his shirt so that he actually has a good reason to buy a new one, but he was caught on the third ball. Mohammad’s introduction settled the batting back down again, managing a useful 30 before also being caught.
Haroldinho sailed over the century line in the 26th over, before gamely retiring not out on 102, including six sixes and nine fours, off 78 balls. Signing off our batting order were Wouter and Yves, who both fell in the last over. Final replacement Martin managed a run; Chris, Floris and Sander did not bat. We were 207/6, a respectable score for a full innings.
Sorry, not sorry
After a delicious lunch from Wouter, VRA1 took the field. It was a sluggish start that did not remotely meet the run rate needed to overhaul us. Yves eventually dismissed two batsmen in the 13th over and Chris quickly dispatched the teenaged incomer in the 14th, leaving us feeling sorry for the young guy. Much amusement was generated by the “training” liberally offered to one of his replacements from their opener, leaving us feeling even sorrier for him. Even John manages to avoid coaching sessions about how to hold a bat.
And inertia seemed to reign. It wasn’t until the 32nd over that VRA1 seemed to realise they were in a serious run chase, and had better start hitting a few boundaries if they were to make a game of it. Unfortunately for us – they did. One six flew so high it went into the VCC’s second field, while their opener piled on the runs, banking two more sixes and another two fours. This brought his own century, and the chase was now real.
Then, high drama in the 34th over when VRA1’s centurion knocked the ball straight to John. At first, his hands grasped the ball, but could he hold onto it? The world stopped. Mouths were open. Two watching pigeons crashed into each other in mid-air. Agonisingly, the ball did the usual dance in which the Lord of Gravity stands aloft, mocking and licking his lips, before it inevitably bounced out of his hands and rolled onto the floor.
Our sixty-something square leg – who had earlier stopped a four at great cost to his fingers – was briefly inconsolable, not least as Kaushal helpfully said that actually catching their star batsman meant the team would have bought him a crate. But there was no time for weeping. VRA1 were now only 15 runs and eight balls away from victory. Could we hold on?
Right down to the wire
Their mightily relieved batsman laughed, said no, and scored a boundary before the strike changed for the final over. And who wants to bowl it? Just like taking a spot kick in a penalty shoot-out, it takes someone with the balls of a bull elephant trying to mate with the circus tent to take on such a challenge.
Step forward Martin, who fearlessly took the ball, leaving the rest of us to pray that it wouldn’t be us who screwed up instead with some dodgy misfielding. But this time, fate was on our side. In a match-winning piece of gymnastics, Wouter jumped high at the boundary to brilliantly stop what would have been a six (and game over) – limiting the damage to two.
So, on the very last ball, they needed three runs to equal our score… and it was a wide. Aaaaarggghh! Two runs needed now. Martin steeled himself and the bowl was straight as an arrow, generating one run, a bit of panic getting the ball back to the bowler’s hands, and some bafflement among the batsmen considering a kamikaze final push.
But… we had done it. A victory margin of ONE RUN! We were over the line, and top of the table. Harold bought the extra crate instead to celebrate his century, John asked furtively why he can never hold onto a catch, and the team celebrated long into the summer night. We rule!
VCC 207/6(35)
VRA 1 206/5(35)
22 Jun 2024
Zami 1D (35)
Sportpark Westvliet
