Fortune favours the brave
The omens were good from the start – no-one got lost on their way to the ground and the Sultans won the toss.
Despite pressure from the opening bowlers to bat first, the skipper took one look at the pitch and decided to have a bowl. On the hottest day of the year. In the midday sun.
This decision was soon vindicated when paceman Rich Conley steamed in from the Wedding End to clean bowl Village CC’s skipper Paul Bowman for 5. The precedent was set, and before long Ben Rankin and Ian Clarke were in the wickets too.
Clarke, operating at an optimum 60 per cent mental, took his first Sultans wicket (a long time coming, some might say) when Ilyas skied the ball to eager new Sultana Andy Rudd at square leg who poached the catch like a pro.
Rankin’s scalp was a rare jaffa in a spell that saw him tonked for 45 in 6 overs.
Another founding Sultan to claim his first wicket was Steve Palmer whose leg stump filth paid off in his second over when Butt flicked the ball nonchalantly off his legs to a surprised Chris Wilson grazing at deep backward square leg. After much flapping of the arms the catch was taken.
Then the masterstroke. Struggling for numbers the previous day skipper Wilson had politely asked his opposing number if he knew of anyone who fancied a game. Within hours he was given the name and number of a Mr Steve Loonstra, an opening batsmen who was very keen to pull on the SOS jersey.
It transpired that the young Aussie could bowl a bit too, and after being chucked the ball in the 22nd over proceeded to run through the lower order, starting with the prized scalp of Moir, who had thus far spanked 56 runs and not looked in trouble once.
After his dismissal – skillfully taken by James Renwick behind the stumps – Loonstra cleaned up the tail finishing the innings with an unprecedented 5-for, including a canny catch from Alex Collins at silly mid on (see pic).
After a picnic style tea of sarnies (including one rouge mustard sandwich that sadly no-one touched), mini scotch eggs, jam tarts and Doritos, it was the Sultans turn to wield their axes.
After Ben Rankin played around a straight one and was fingered LBW for 2, opener Loonstra and number 3 Wilson slapped the swinging Bowman and left-armed Boa for 50 runs in 8 overs before Wilson’s flashing blade was blunted by a double bowling change that saw him bowled all over the place by Ghedia’s first delivery of his first over.
With Tim Dainty, the batting hero from the Sultan’s previous game, striding out to bat and the run rate well under control there was no cause for concern. Until he lofted a simple C&B chance back to Ghedia.
A flurry of wickets followed, with two ducks (Palmer and Mackay) among them. The ship was steadied briefly when Renwick stroked a handful of quick singles, but he was soon back in the hutch too, followed by Collins (4) and Conley (1).
Despite Loonstra’s lusty hitting throughout this collapse, the game was seemingly up when genuine number 11 (never batted before, in the nets, on the beach, anywhere) Andy Rudd strode out to the crease looking like a doe on roller-skates.
But our Aussie hero had other plans. On 93 when Rudd joined him in the middle, he wasn’t going to let a century and an improbable victory slip from his grasp.
Clever farming of the strike, sensible (if unorthodox) running and sturdy blocking from A.Rudd saw the total creep up, and when Loonstra smashed his way to three figures with a straight six that slammed into the metal fence behind the gathered Sultans there was a glimmer of hope for the visitors.
With 15 needed for victory, three 4s were quickly dispatched leaving only three required… then Loonstra played one shot too many and lofted the ball to a Village CC fielder perfectly positioned at backward point.
Sadly for them he dropped it. Inappropriate cheers and at least one cry of ‘you just dropped the Ashes, mate’ went up before four byes sealed an improbable but roundly deserved first victory for the Sultans of Swing.
All hail Steve Loonstra. Please don’t go back to Oz.
Result: Sultans of Swing won by 1 wicket
