Report by Tom Serby:
As Joe White prepared to face the first ball of the last over of the match with 4 needed for victory and two wickets in hand, it seemed unlikely that this fluctuating game had another twist in store. As if to ramp up the drama however, Joe dead-batted a full toss and turned down an easy single; the next ball was a good length, pitched outside off, and having turned, hit Joe's pad as he played back: out LBW. Still 4 needed, now 4 balls and one wicket left, as number eleven Alec Armstrong, whose batting does not normally get an airing in Remnants matches, strode out.
Joe had, as is traditional, also been involved at the other end of the match, having opened Remnants bowling account with 3 tidy (but wicketless) overs, conceding 10 runs. His new ball partner, Eli Ellwood (1/22), paid the price for erring fractionally in line and length, and a hard hitting Philanderers top order took a toll; and a score comfortably in excess of 150 looked on the cards. That this did not occur was due to the change bowlers, Alec (1/13 off 4 overs) and Felix Serby (5/8 off 4 overs [These were the ninth best bowling figures in club history and the best by a teenager . . . although only the second best by a Serby - ed.]). Felix's skiddy pace broke the wicket three times and accounted for two other batters with very well taken low catches at mid-on and mid-wicket from Eli and Quentin Harmer respectively. A total of less than 100 now looked more likely, but Philanderers had kept back their hardest hitting batsman, Henry Campbell of EAPL fame, who took Quentin Harmer for three "maximums" in the last over.
Remnants chase started out with Henry Campbell now armed with a ball in his hand, wielded in every bit as intimidating a fashion as the willow. Thanks mainly to Mihir Chandekar (48 off 51 balls), however, Remants were half way to the target after 10 overs with all wickets intact. After Tom Serby (23 off 24 balls) and Mihir went, the middle order offered little resistance; and Alec's unaccustomed outing with the bat could produce only 3 runs, sufficient for a tie.
