2’s snatch victory from jaws of defeat, from the jaws of victory.

The Wick arrived at bottom place Chessington just seven points and a place above them. With the close nature of the league, it really was a must win game for the 2’s. We started the warmup in a disorderly fashion, shock, with Ed telling Linter he had keeping pads and then forgetting to bring them to the ground. However, Linter managed to win the toss and elected to put Chessington in. Linter and Webbo opened up with Webbo even with years away deciding he wanted a short leg, which miraculously somehow almost worked. We started well and Wbbo picked up one of their openers early on.
The strong winds then took effect and for once they weren’t from the night before. As a strong gust blew across the pitch and took the sightscreens down at one end. The wick then struggled to find the next breakthrough until DJ who I’m pretty sure has never turned a ball in his life surprinsingly bowled a straight one, to which the other opening decided to shoulder arms to. Chessington then progressed to 100 odd for 2 off 20. Bilal and then Maingot proceeded to tie up the Chessington batsman to 150-6 off 40 overs and some late order hitting from there no.5 and 8, including Linter getting reversed ramped twice in 3 balls saw Chessington to 209-6 off their 50 overs. Tea was an average affair with really not much catching eye or much remaining by the time wen entered the pavilion . 4.5/10

We started our chase off well with Hirsch and Matty D before Hirsch played one on (which would become a common theme) with the score on 21. Enter Bob who looked to rebuild a good start with Matty D. They looked increasingly assured and started to pick up the scoring rate with a good rate of singles and bludgeoning the odd ball to boundary. With the score on 130 Riley, sorry Nomi, would pick up the first of his 2 wickets for Chessington triggering Matty D just short of his 50. Robbie then passed his 50 with relative ease. The wick progressed towards 150 and with just 60 odd required off the last 17 overs it looked like we were going to cruise to victory. But as with so many games we do like to make it as difficult as possible for ourselves. DJ was the first to go being completely bamboozled by a slower ball that just went up and down. Then Colly was triggered, not by nomi this time, pinball was Nomi’s second wicket, before Robbie was also undone by a slower ball. Ed attempted to add some stability to our innings however with Maingot and Bilal both falling and then Ed missing a straight one, the Wick were reduced to 190-9 with the sideline wondering how we managed to f*** it up from the position we were in.

The MW club is the most elusive club within Hampton Wick and one that all wick members aspire to be in (Dom Jones). Enter Captain, Leader, Legend, Phil Linter with 14 required off 12 balls he and Webbo managed to get to the last over requiring 10 to win. With Webbo taking strike and smashing a ball straight through the cover fielder and somehow running 3. Linter stepped up to the plate and guided the ball to the backward point boundary, we now required 3 off the last 3 balls. A massive heave produced a dot ball sgtraight through to the keeper. The same tactic was employed for the next ball, this time it produced a Chinese cut straight to the fine leg boundary for four. Cue wild celebrations on the boundary which would be carried on well into Sunday morning.

I’m still not quite sure how we managed to win this game but in the long run could be massive for our season.
Welcome to the MW club Linter!!!