Halverstown v. Leinster 7

Leinster Division 13, Saturday 28th May
Halverstown won by 7 wickets

It had taken us about a week to dry out from the soaking we got in Trinity only for the clouds to gather over Halverstown and make this another wet match.  However we played it out despite a couple of stoppages.

Leinster turned up with 9 players, which showed their determination to play this fixture, and we were grateful that they did. There is nothing worse than a Saturday afternoon, which you have set aside to play cricket and it doesn’t happen. The Captain’s winning streak regarding the toss came to an end but fortunately his decision to play on the mat ensured that the game was played to the finish. 

We welcomed back Neville Case who had been out due to a sheep induced injury and Des Gray who had finally finished celebrating his ‘fifer’ two weeks previously.

Leinster decided to bat and once again the ‘Miller/Lindwall’ combination of Case and Threadgold made runs very difficult to come by but wickets were hard to get. The skipper now has the luxury of about 7 bowlers in the team and being an astute tactician he rotates them in order to keep the batsmen on their toes. Idrees and Ashan were first change and got a wicket each. Wasif who had been held back as the ‘nuclear option’ came on and took two wickets but we were still short of wrapping up the innings. Of course the good wine was kept until last and what a vintage it was. John Threadgold returned for his fifth over and “ran like sparks through the stubble”. He conceded one run off his first ball and then took 4 wickets off successive balls. John rather modestly conceded that he couldn’t personally remember performing this outstanding feat before but might have had a hat trick on one or two occasions. Leinster were all out for 68.

During the Leinster innings we had to stop twice and the second time we had a delicious tea made by Noella. Fresh sandwiches and home made cakes made us think of childhood picnics. It is no wonder that John went back onto the pitch reenergized to perform his record breaking feat.

In theory 68 is not a big total to chase but the Halverstown temperament is never averse to a bit of excitement. Opening bowlers Bilal Mohammed and Abdul Almanzai got the ball to move around quite a lot and 3 wickets fell cheaply until Wasif weighed anchor and scored an unbeaten 33. He hit a 6 into the river fence but could not equal Darren’s record of landing it half way across the river in a previous season. He and the Skipper brought the team home.

The outstanding moment of the day was John’s ‘4 in 4’ and he has been interviewed by podcast Slog Sweep which airs on Thursday. Listen here (from 59' 10"). That will be one to remember when sitting next to the fire in the gloomy winter months.