Blackburn Cricket Club

BLACKBURN 5/268 (Callanan 75 , Dwyer 44 , Rose 60 not out , Rayner 36)

Lost to

STH BLACKBURN 8/269 (Smith 4/58 , Meilak 2/46)

South Blackburn sent us in at their small, fast home ground. But Callanan and Dwyer started very well and at drinks we were 0/114. The score progressed to 142 before Callanan was unfortunately run out for an excellent 75. Dwyer was out 20 runs later for a well made 44 but this only brought Rayner in and together with Rose they ensured an explosive end to our innings. We lost 3 wickets in the last 2 overs as we tried to maximise the score.

We took two wickets in the first two overs. After the openers had each bowled 4 overs Rose and Meilak tightened the run rate up and then two wickets by Meilak saw them at 4/70 off 13 overs. The run rate continued to build until nine an over when Blackburn South started throwing caution to the wind. But despite most (and occasionally all) fielders being on the fence they were generally able to maintain that rate. This was mainly due to their ability to hit the ball over the boundary. Their clean hitting was very good with only a few mishits here and there.

They gave us four chances to get then out but we were only able to take one, a spectacular catch running in by Rose to make it 5/206. Smith was brought back into the attack and he clean bowled two batsmen off consecutive deliveries to make it 8/251. They needed 17 to win off the last 2 overs. Five of Meilak’s balls went for 3 runs, the other ball was edged through the vacant first slip for four. Ten required off the last over. Smith conceded 3 from the first 4 balls, then they pinched a bye off the fifth. So they needed 5 to tie and 6 to win from the last ball. It was only slightly shorter than the yorker Smith was aiming for but it was enough for the batsman to get under it and just clear the short long on boundary.

This game provided the same lesson to the team as the previous game, only this time we were on the losing side. No matter how well one side starts the game every ball is crucial and if the side behind continues to do the right things and the side ahead makes a few mistakes the game can be turned around very quickly.