Scunthorpe Town Sunday captain Ian Snowden picking up the runners-up trophy following the NLL D1 KO Cup final against Cleethorpes.
We'd better kick off by mentioning the big man's fine diving catch in the covers, early on.
However, Town were always chasing the game - physically and mentally - after a decidedly destructive knock from Elliott Drinkell. It's a long time since I've seen anyone take an attack apart like he did. Graham Hackney, who was playing in this final, reported the facts in an earlier posting - 41 runs in only 15 balls (four sixes and four fours).
Yet it was the way he made his runs which stunned Scunthorpe. We've written many complimentary things about Ramesh Chand's bowling in recent years - both in print and online. But his usual two-an-over seamers were blazed to all parts by Elliott.
As big-hitting Elliott arrived at the crease, keeper Dave Brown (he of the Silence of the Lambs face mask) was heard to remark: "The first ball's always a nightmare!" The batsman responded by clipping Ramesh's next delivery behind square for four. The following ball produced a massive straight six - and that set the tone. Talk about a sigh of relief among Town supporters when he finally went, caught at long off (a great effort by young Dec Toyne, who was in a real pressure situation as the ball reached him). But, by then, the damage had been done.
Town brought many supporters with them - a sort of Barmy Army - in the shade of the famous Hibaldstow tree, waving '4' and '6' boards when their team managed boundaries after tea. But once Matt Pashley, who was looking in very good nick, damaged a knee and was out soon afterwards, their hopes disappeared rapidly, despite a half-century from dependable opener Neil Patrick.
Leaving aside some rapid 20s and 30s from Outcasts' Andy Lawson, it would have to be 1988/9 since I've seen an innings to match Elliott Drinkell's for rapid scoring. That was 90-plus by Neil Vartan for Hertfordshire against Lincolnshire in a rain-ruined Minor Counties match at Stevenage.
It appears this is the way Mr Drinkell always bats. As the bowling end umpire I owe a large pint to Scunthorpe's genial medium-pacer Pop Robson for taking the sting out of an Elliott straight drive which was coming my way.
My Way? Yes, had it hit me between the eyes I might now be 'up there' listening to Frank Sinatra signing his classic song in person!
To view the full scorecard from the final(courtesy of Paul Hewstone) visit....
Cleethorpes' Play Cricket website page
No comments:
Post a Comment