Wolf resorts ‘ginger kid’ to tears

After last week’s tension filled win, the last thing OG needed was another "nail biter", but on a day where it looked likely that there would be interruptions, that was what materialised.

Mitchell lost the toss and Hadfield (maybe down to the above) chose to bat. Old Glossop, five players short of their strongest team due to holidays and promotions to the first team, and with opening bowler Matt Parker hampered by a foot injury sustained in last weeks win, knew that they would be up against it. Matt "Lazarus" Parker was, despite his foot injury, given the responsibility of opening the bowling with his partner in crime Twist, albeit off a "Twist like" short four pace run up.

Hadfield initially struggled against Parker and Twist (who looked in buoyant mood at the site of his harem from the nearby retirement home, cheering him on), however Hadfield then began to find the boundaries. Twist bowled the junior of the opening pair with the score on 30.

Parker, who was visibly hampered by his foot (think we’ve established that now Matt! – Ed) and the abnormality of coming off 4 paces, was soon rewarded when the dangerous Turnbull was caught out at point by Tory (even he couldn't drop that one) for a brisk 32.

Parker (1-37) off 11 overs was replaced by "golden arm" Mitchell with the score on 77 after 23 overs. Mitchell, who was struggling with his run up and some strange Royston Vasey like bleeding, was immediately dispatched to all parts in a very brief spell, which conceded 30 runs off 3 overs. Twist then got rid off the Hadfield no 3, before two drops in quick succession by Parker at slip looked to prove costly - firstly dropping OG aging old boy Want when on 16 and then the Hadfield no 4 when he was in his 40's. Parker commented to Twist "If cousin Big T was in the slip cordon instead of watching camp band Pet shop boys then there would another 8 runs on Twists figures". Twist, with the extra excitement of his ladies walking round in negligees, was tiring quickly and was replaced by Mitchell, who got a wicket with the first ball of his second spell.

Hadfield continued to score at a quick rate and due to some big hitting and intolerable fielding, mainly by the spritely OG teenagers, (give ‘em a break Matt, future of the club and all that – Ed), were on the way to posting a more than respectable total. The poor fielding spread like an epidemic and even the reliable Allcock dropped a catch in the deep off Wright, and Wright then had another two chances go down off his bowling, and as a result his head dropped. This allowed him to force himself into DOD contention when he was slapped for six by Want (Yes I said Want). Mitchell got two late wickets to finish, including Want for a well made 49 and the Hadfield no 3 for a well made 65. Hadfield finished their innings on 232-6.

At tea there were some harsh words said by all but it was decided by the senior players to forget about the first part of the game and go and prove our worth with a valiant second half. In a bold move by skipper Mitchell it was taken to change the batting order, as to give stability all through. J.Wright opened with Allcock and from the first ball looked at ease in his new position. In fact it was the usual opener Allcock who struggled in the first 10 overs.

Wright (19) was in danger of upsetting Twist as one non-toryesque shot over the bowlers head got a ripple of applause from one of Twisty’s ageing adoring fans. Tory had got OG off to a great start before being bowled with the score in the forties. Gerrard joined Allcock at the crease and he too struggled at first, Allcock didn't look in danger of being out, but not looking his normal fluent self with the bat, until he unleashes one might cover drive and never looked back.

Gerrard too was beginning to find form and was harsh on anything short. Allcock stroked his way to 50 with a six and was then bowled for 65. It was decided to send "floating batsman" Matt Parker into bat next as to try and up the impetus of the innings. Parker soon did this and he and Gerrard soon got up to the 150 mark.

Hadfield decided to try and keep the runs down and bought on young ginger spinner Keenan. He got rid of Gerrard (21) with his first ball and looked like being a threat.

Traynor (1) was chosen next to try and hit quick runs but soon departed. Mitchell went in at six and after a particular nervy first few deliveries off Keenan appeared to be up for the task. Parker (24) was out trying to rotate the strike, stumped off the bowling of Keenan. Wolf was next to join Mitchell and OG needing 60 off 8 overs looked on target with Mitchell in hard hitting mood.

Wolf looked out of sorts at first, not looking as if he could get it off the square, but as Wolf will tell you "form is temporary, class is permanent”. (Ed – the only man unlucky enough to get two “balls of the century” in one season!). He then stroked 16 off one of the Hadfield captain’s overs to put OG in the box seat.

Needing just 13 off 17 balls now, Mitchell inexplicably took one big shot on too many and was adjudged stumped by the Royston Vaseyite Tory.

Twist was next in and after his heroics last week looked up for it, but his "walking wicket" tag will be handed back to him after too being stumped for 0.

There was a remark heard by one of the OG girlfriends from a Hadfield fan about Twist saying "if I were that sh*t I wouldn't bother playing", maybe a question for skipper Mitchell that?

Tom Wright was a sacrificial lamb (like the irony – Ed) as he was run out saving the now salivating Wolf. Last man Burns joined Wolf at the wicket and was told to “just run” as OG needed only one to win off the final ball of the day. The Hadfield skipper bowled to Wolf who eeked out the ball to the leg-side.

Wolf then scampered on all fours (sorry that was my interpretation of the scene ! – Ed) and set off to run, howling all the way, as the Hadfield fielder took aim and through down the stumps.

Time stood still and it was left to umpire and long standing friend of the Parker family (not) Goodwin to make a decision. To the delight of the OG players, and the dismay of the Hadfield lads, Wolf was adjudged home.

This started a celebration from Wolf (32*) reminiscent of Marco Tardelli after his goal in the World Cup final of 82. As a result of his 5-48 and the fact that he had lost in this epic, Keenan was visibly upset at the outcome, but a promising performance will surely give him another day, just not against OG.