Having got soaked 24 hours earlier on the hallowed turfof St. Fagan’s who would have thought we would be turning up with the sunshining and the pitch fit and ready for a Cup quarter final. As we all knowEclipse Print CC and the Cup do not go hand in hand – we went 8 seasons withoutwinning a Cup game until our run to the Final the year before last and wereturned to type last year with a very disappointing loss in the first round.However we are now another year older and wiser – well definitely older notsure about wiser! The opposition were our old adversaries the Cavaliers. Eversince Dyl’s debateable umpiring decision 4 seasons ago at the Cathedral Schooland Steadman’s subsequent throwing his toys out of the pram incident there hasalways been a slight edge to our games with the Cavaliers.
Most of us arrived bright and early except for theSkipper who was delayed from work. Therefore it was left to me to deal with thetoss – some of you may say I have vast experiencing of tossing and in fairnessI cannot deny that accusation! My vast experience of tossing proved criticaland the coin came down a tail when their skipper Jimmy had called a head and Idecided for us to have a bat as usual. Then all of a sudden in the distance aluminous figure was seen emerging from the car park – we all looked on inhorror as to what it could be until it came close and it turned out to be ouryoung skipper Mike. He was still in his work attire and I kid you not it was aluminous bright yellow hoodie – yes you read right a luminous yellow hoodie.Never has the respectable suburb of St. Fagan’s witnessed such a fashion fauxpas. Mike assures us he is merely testing the water for next year’s EclipseClub colours!!
I digress let’s move on to what happened on the field!Well Tim and I strode out to the crease full of confidence having shared a fewsuccessful opening partnerships this season however some tight early bowlingfrom the Cavaliers kept the run rate low the first couple of overs. Thepressure told in the 5th over with me hitting the ball straight tomid-on and out for 4. That bought Niluka to the crease who took a few balls toget going and was then dropped on the long on boundary a few balls later. Inthe meantime Tim had started to find his timing and struck a few goodboundaries to take him to 27 and retirement. Mike joined Niluka and the runsstarted to flow with Niluka and Mike hitting some lovely 6 shots. It lookedlike Niluka would follow Tim into retirement but an ugly attempt at another 6got him bowled by Bowen for a quick fire 23. Mike continued to strike somebeautiful shots and moved through to 28 and retired. Andy Parry then continuedwith some lusty boundaries before being bowled for a quick fire 13. Lee, Brian(the horse whisperer), the Perv, the Boss and Nashy all then put their personalaverages to one side and played for the team by hitting out and in the Boss’scase running a suicidal second run – not even Usain Bolt would have made it,the Boss never had a hope in hell and was run out by a good 12 yards! All thiswas done with the team cause in mind enabling us to get Tim and the skipperback to the crease. Mike returned for the very final ball of the innings and despatchedit without a though for 6 into the field with the horses. Guess who was overthe fence like a shot to retrieve it? Yes Brian “the horse whisperer” Condonwas over the fence like Colin Jackson over a hurdle (or a rent boy if therumours be true about Mr. Jackson) to retrieve the pink ball and have a quietmoment with his horses. I am not one to spread rumours but I can confirm Ispotted a copy of Black Beauty in Brian’s kit bag – I am seriously worriedabout Brian and his new found infatuation with horses! Anyway I digress again theEclipse innings closed on 132-9 a pleasing total on a wicket that was not easyto score runs on.
So with 132 to defend we felt confident if we bowled andfielded well that we could win the game. Being a Cup game we had to bowl 9different bowlers so the Perv passed the wicket keeping duties to yours truly.Now some of you will be aware that in the previous night’s game the Perv hadloaned Barbie out to the opposition and for one night only Barbie had someblack in her. Now we know the saying once you’ve had black you never go back. Ifelt there was no way I would be able to fill the void in Barbie (the infamousshower photos are evidence of this!) Sofelt it better to use my own keeping gloves!
We opened with Davey Nash and Luke who both bowledtightly. The dangerous Steadman did us a favour and ran a suicidal single whenhe hit it straight to Andy Parry who then threw it to me to take the bails off.We very nearly had the perfect start when the equally dangerous Graveson skiedone to the General Lee Court on the mid-wicket boundary. Now I cannot rememberLee dropping a catch for Eclipse but he managed to let this one slip throughhis fingers – after the game he blamed it on the rim of his hat getting in theway. Apparently he threw his hat to the ground like a big girl although I didnot witness this. Graveson and their skipper Jimmy Marchant then started to getthe run rate going and both went through to retire.
When under pressure it calls for a big man to step up tothe plate and let’s be honest there is none bigger in the Eclipse team than theBoss RDJ! The Boss did not disappoint and bowled a cracking couple of overstaking 2-11 which slowed the rate down. He received great assistance from AndyParry (1-10, not as good as the 4-8 the previous night mind!! – Sorry Andy torub it in again) and the skippers first over which went for only 3 runs. Sothey needed 40 off 3 overs – The horse whisperer to bowl 2 and the skipper 1 –surely there was no way we could lose this? Now those of you who have playedfor some years know that Eclipse do not like to do things the easy way! Brianbowled a cracking over going for only 6 runs. That left them needing 34 off 2overs. The skipper then decided to make things interesting by bowling 2 noballs and a wide in his over and conceding 15 runs from his over. This leftthem needing 19 off the last over!! Tension was high around St. Fagan’s; Brian lookedtowards his horses for inspiration. Brizer then bowled a cracking over underpressure taking 2-7 off his last over and leaving the Cavaliers 12 runs shortof the target.
A cracking win and performance all round. We now moveonto a Semi Final against the Cardiff Bay Barbarians in a few weeks’ time. Onlyone thing left to say will Barbie ever be the same again?
Author - Chris