As the lights faded quite literally on the season, Marble Hill park was treated to a classic send off. One that might live long in the memory of both local rivals provided more tales and drama than the Shakespeare performance being performed in the grounds of the famous house. With the ground once again bathed in sunshine Courtney won the toss and decided to bat.
Promoting Ironmonger once again to open the two batsmen headed for the middle to face the St Stephens openers. A tidy first few overs from the St Stephens pace attack, one with the run up length not too dissimilar to the great Shoaid Akhtar caused Ironmonger to revert back to one of his more familiar aggressive shots however a combination of miss timing and a bat that has longed for retirement resulted in a high catch taken at point. The early breakthrough for St. Stephen's brought Aseef who has been in fine form of late to the crease to partner Courtney. In what has been the backbone of Marble hill's large scores this season the two top order batsmen went about setting another big partnership with relative ease. Picking off any lose deliveries and playing out the dangerous and metronomic friend and sometimes fellow teammate Jez.
With drinks taken and another fine hundred partnership (131) Marble Hill had the foundations to once again set a big total for the opposition. Aseef who had valiantly battled on despite a flair up to a previous injury finally had to call on the support of a runner. With this in mind the big shots was forthcoming but unfortunately he picked out a fielder at midwicket for a excellent but questionable 49* we had him down as scoring many more. Sanderson was next in and with 10 overs to go got to work about increasing the the run rate. With Courtney playing some cracking text book cricket shots and Sandersons swatting the ball to the boundaries not quite with the venom we are used to seeing Marble Hill quickly passed the two hundred mark and the run rate was in excess of ten an over. Courtney's fine captain's innings coming to an end in the thirty second over for a magnificent eighty five, well batted skipper.
Next in of the big hitters was Joe and with only three overs to go was given the task of "hit out or get out" unfortunately succumbing to the latter. Sushil was up next and with Sanderson in tow put on a brilliant thirty four partnership in the last two and a half overs. Marble Hill finishing on 254 for 4.
After a few overs out in the middle for the very exciting and impressive future generation of Marble Hill CC members, St Stephens openers headed to the crease. Now down to ten men, Aseef unfortunately unfit to return to the field and with little time and light fading, the Marble Hill attack had to rattle through thirty five overs or less in very quick time. Sanderson and Watts opening the attack and started well find the edge a couple of times unfortunately just evading the fielders. Keeping Jez who we all know is a superb batsman quite was going to be a hard task for this bowling unit however it was his opening partner (Jopling) who showed signs of being the more aggressive batsman picking off anything on leg stump for four behind square leg. As this attack continued a much needed chance was offered up to Ironmonger, making good ground and diving low to his right he couldn't hold onto the catch which ended up very costly. As Marble Hill toiled away trying to break this empress partnership it was the weekend debutant Vijay who finally got the breakthrough, after a couple of decent overs keeping the run rate down Vijay lured Jez into a big shot towards cow corner only to pick out Ironmonger making up for his earlier fumble. A very good knock from Jez of fifty seven well played mate.
Following the drinks break and with the light rapidly fading fielding conditions became extremely tough with the ball starting to pass unsighted fielders. The impressive Jopling had found himself another solid partner in Dean-Williams as he continued to find the leg side boundary with ease reaching his century in doing so. With the game now slipping away and St Stephens well on top the impressive loosening up stretches from Dawson down at fine leg had finally caught the eye of the skipper Courtney. At the request of the umpire Marble Hill had to now bowl all remaining overs from the house end and pace would have to be taken out of the attack. Dawson and Wes would now have to bowl steady line and length with Ironmonger bowling some overs of off spin to make the overs up. With the finishing line in sight Jopling going to his much fancied leg side try to clear the boundary only to find Sushil well positioned to take a great catch. This much needed wicket gave Marble Hill a glimmer of hope and Wes was to soon have another this time trapping the batsman in front. Dawson who has impressed in previous weeks and after a week of practice in his new back yard knew he didn't have many runs to play with. A few steady overs meant the game would reach the last with St Stephens needing eight off it. With Dean-Williams still at the crease the advantage was with the batting side. However Dawson was to produce one of the best last overs Marble Hill has witnessed. Dean-Williams looking to finish the game quickly ended up picking out Sanderson at deep midwicket, the following ball Dawson clattered the top of off stump with a wonderful delivery.
The equation was now 8 needed from four, that was down to 6 as the next delivery went for two. The St Stephens batsman tried to tickle the next delivery down to fine leg only to find Paul diving to his right to take a stunning one handed catch to add to the collection of already impressive ones for the team this season. With six needed off the final delivery it was down to Dawson to keep his nerve and see Marble Hill home to a famous and unlikely win. He did just that bowling just back of a length forcing the batsman to swing across the line and miss the ball. Joe making sure to see it safely into his gloves after another impressive match behind the stumps and with this Marble Hill winning and ending the Season undefeated!.
A quite magnificent come back and a match that will live long in the memories of the Marble Hill faithful. Well played gentlemen and to the opposition. A cracking way to end the season.
A number of stand out performances most notably Courtney's wonderful innings of 85 and Dawson's match winning figures of 3-24