Victory from the jaws of defeat

This reporter has watched Godalming CC at Holloway Hill since 1987 and never seen such a contrast between a match on Saturday and that on Sunday. (Saturday, July 1st was a dreadful day. Our league 2nds lost by 10 wickets at home to Old Pauline, and in the away match the 1st XI lost by 8 wickets. Our blogster's report would have excoriated our sides).
BUT, blogster would have produced one hell of a report about our league cup side, who achieved a quite remarkable victory under Biff Clarke on Sunday, coming back from near-death to win by 3 wickets in the league cup quarter-final.
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Here is my brief description of the match, played in lovely warm sunshine against spirited and sporting opponents.

Will Kriehn, sharp and accurate (it's intended as a compliment to him and Hern when I say that initially I thought the "Will" being encouraged was Hern) was too swift for two of the Long Ditton top four. Quinney (48) then joined Mumford (115*), adding 92 before the former was caught out of his crease as Carsten -- within a tight spell (9 overs for 25) -- deflected a straight drive on to the stumps. LD skipper Antonio (36) made swift runs with Mumford before falling to an outstanding catch by Ollie Baker off Jamie Mack [money was on a drop from the moment the ball went into the air!] following which Peall joined Mumford for a late assault on the other bowlers, even the returning Kriehn. Only the Georges (Dukes (9 overs for 41 and Stow, 7 overs for 28) joined Carsten in going at fewer than 5 an over, though some bowlers could have expected better support in the field.
(As for those who did WELL in the field, my eyesight doesn't let me pick individuals out -- though I did notice specifically some good stuff by Charlie, Monty and Ieuan).

Their 240 in 45 overs looked gettable, especially after we started off with the benefit of several byes (8 in the first over) and wides (two lots of 5). And, happily, their opening bowlers used the middle of the track to the great benefit of Biff, who knows how to pull a long-hop, however "quick". Ollie Baker played some pleasant shots, but ever quite got going -- off-spinner Fegan snared him thanks to a fine slip catch.
When Biff (43, and looking good for 100) was sharply stumped, the keeper standing up to a medium-pacer, the auguries became gradually less propitious. Monty briefly looked in cool control: Ieuan (36) played some fine shots but, like Will, was deceived by the off-spinning Fegan.

Following these quick wickets, there was a period of retrenchment while George Stow and Milner played out Fegan, happy to get six an over or so from the other bowlers, until George Stow was out to Desai, LD's second most effective bowler -- 9 overs 1/36. (Desai deserves a mention also because he, along with Will's dad Wayne, SCORED during their innings -- it's good and very helpful to have players who can and will score). On Stow's dismissal, Charlie joined Milns. By this time, we needed 7+ runs an over, and the cause seemed lost. Milns was lucky not to be stumped (and twice escaped being "Mankaded"), and kept the chase up, but golfer Charlie took time to get going. When Milns provided yet more catching practice to LD, we seemed dead in the water.
ENTER GEORGE, the admiral's youngest son. Walking to the crease with the enthusiasm of an aristo on his way to the guillotine, he played himself in by smashing his first ball for an enormous six.

That shot was the turning point, as it transformed his brother from golfer back to cricketer. [Sibling rivalry?] He struck some excellent blows, as did George when he managed to get on strike. Better still, the pair of them ran like hares between the wickets, turning dot balls into twos, played some outrageous shots, belted the ball to all parts, and ultimately LD's fielding came under severe pressure and mistakes were made.

The end rushed up on us (and LD), coming with four byes, with overs to spare. George looked fairly cool afterwards (his brother's face was an amazing shade of puce). Neither of them was as excited as their exultant father, or (probably) as was I, the scorerI

WELL DONE, AND THANK YOU, LEAGUE CUP TEAM, FOR PROVIDING SUCH ENTERTAINMENT!