4.57pm....as I was walking back to the pavilion, the Champs seemed to have self destructed again. Chasing 145, we were 73 for 3 at drinks and with Geoff seeing the ball like a watermelon we should have polished this one off easily....but in true Champs fashion before you could say .....faaaark....we were 96 for 6.
4.58pm in walks Tony.....his signature white helmet glowing in what otherwise seemed like another dark hole for the champs to climb out off. As he passed me, all I remember saying is "Geoff is on fire....support him....bring it home mate"
5.00pm.... after 1hr 40min at the crease, 54 balls faced and 56 priceless runs, solid as a rock Geoff once again as predictable as mohammad amir, pulled. The sound of bat on ball was as clear as Times of the World sound editing and somehow the umpire only saw the ball hit pad.....Out. Was this once again God telling us something.
Geoff walks off the ground with another fantastic innings but I'm sure feeling something missing..next walks in fearless klaus.
5.07pm....with champs on 97 for 7, 22.1 overs gone, 48 left to get in 8 overs. This is where the Champs comeback story starts. Tony dispatches the ball to the boundary and then klaus and tony run a few quick singles. Just when it looked like some momentum was building.... in an effort to get the runs klaus skies one.....champs 108 for 8.
5.08pm... Disco walks into the cauldron. Tony awaits. 23.5 overs are gone and 37 runs are required off 6 overs.
Champs are still not accepting a comeback in the making. How dare we wish it....hadn't we wished before only to be disappointed. The boys were too scared to dream it seems....
25th over saw tony hit 2 beautiful fours and some great running with disco saw champs reach 125. 20 runs left to get in 4 overs. We are back!!!!! I thought as I sat next to the scorers. From there I started counting down the runs, 19, 18, 17,........4 runs....u beauty.....13 to go, another 4 ....u ripper....9. Tony was on fire. Disco running like never before. These Champs weren't giving up.
The sidelined Champs had walked out of the water logged Anza dressing room and sat cheering at the boundary next to the side screen. A few more quick runs 1,2,1,2 and champs were down to 3 runs to win in 2 overs. We could taste it, we could smell it.....hadnt we been this close before...maybe not.
5.24pm....24 mins after his arrival and 30 runs later in 22 balls....our knight in white helmet faulted to a good ball and the stumps fell. The sound while sweet harmony to the bowlers ears....rattled the Champs.
Yours truly walked in slow motion into the pavilion to see how lord gibb was faring. Never before have I seen him speechless....but not scared. Out he walked... padded up, with gloves on BUT no bat. Has he lost it I thought...I did't blame him. We were all in lady gaga land. Thankfully he crossed Tony in time and took his bat.
Lord Gibb ....delivery 1....comes forward..well played into covers.
Delivery 2...wide ball.....2 runs to go.
Delivery 3....wide ball....a tie...
Delivery 4....I'm standing behind the pavilion like a little child half seeing the action as if its a horror movie.
The ball strikes his pads...the whole team is up in the air appealing....What a tied game? No no no...this can't happen to the Champs....no bloddy rain wash outs for us...no bloody wins and the only tied game in the bloody season...and its us...no,no,no....
The champs watched the ump....but no movement. We are still in it boys!
5.27pm......delivery 5....lord gibb goes forward and plays the ball into covers.....he runs as does disco....as do the champs onto the field... The rest is history.
The half hour I described was the end of what was a true Champs performance. In the field the bowlers performed great. Lord gibb leading the way with only 22 runs off 6 overs and great support from klaus with 20 of 5 and 2 wkts...who also delivered (I believe) our first wkt maiden. Howard also delivered two quick wkts in his three overs. Some very smart bowling by phil who was unlucky. Jim and yours truly also grabbed a wkt each,for the stats.
Fielding was good...with only life threatening catches being dropped.
Ben seems to be in the firing line, they couldn't get past him so they tried to go through him. Chiro once again put his body on the line only to suffer some damage to his thumb...nothing serious I hope chiro. Tony's efforts in the field were as impressive as his batting...as sub keeper he took 4 catches and a stumping...he had already paid his keep even before he went out to bat.
Total of 144 runs conceded with the champs giving their usual 33 wides....otherwise the bowlers were unplayable.
Amongst the batsmen,other than tony's heroics, disco/klaus support and Geoffs batting which has been consistent thru the year.....Lord GIBBS winning run will be remembered by all.....as we left the ground I'm sure I heard him say....
"That was fun".
Well deserved Champs.
Signing off......
Mm
