A batting masterclass from Selfish Simon, a battling undefeated 39 from BK's Pete and a late blitzkrieg from Tim Cork took Cincers to a memorable victory Over Old Wimbledonians yesterday.
But the triumph, our first ever over OWs, was all built on a fine spell of off-spin bowling from Richard H and a superb all-round effort in the field.
As is now the custom in Cincers' game, it went down to the wire.
But it began with a fatal wobble by OWs
Having won the toss and chosen to stick us in, their Skip had a sudden change of heart.
He was worried we were too weak and the game would be all over in a trice.
Was he conned by our Skip?
It's possible. Many people have been.
The trickery continued.
To lull OWs into a false sense of total dominance, what better than for the Skip to bring himself on with his 'leggies'!
One classic flighted full-toss on leg was wafted effortlessly for four and OWs were up and running.
The trap set, Selfish's famously miserly media-pacers were deployed to replace the Skip.
At the other, Charlie Barker, now rapidly becoming a Cincers regular, started tightly too.
The first breakthrough: technically, batsman run out off non-striker's buttock.
A sharp deflection, a chaotic run and Selfish off his own bowling threw down the stumps at the keeper's end.
(Keeper, by the way, was Corkie - Pete having arrived a mite to late to don the gloves).
Selfish soon struck again - an LBW.
For the rest of his spell, he was a miser - 1 for 13 off 7.
Even so, OWs were striking the ball well when Richard H began with his two-stride run-up off-breaks.
The oppo's eyes lit up. His first over went for 12.
But they don't call Richard the Graeme Swann of Cincers for nothing.
(They don't actually call him that at all yet but we need to get this label up and running).
After being smashed for one mighty boundary, the batsman was bowled through the gate by a sharp turner. 36 for 3 and looking good.
Inevitably, OWs rallied after that.
But then Charlie struck, thanks to a fine catch from a half-asleep Tom L at gully.
He was dozing as Saturday night was his official 30th birthday party.
He was still dozing when he came into bat later.
Back to their innings.
A dry-as-dust and slow wicket was suiting Richard.
Suddenly he got two in two. The hat trick ball didn't materialise but there was run-out off his bowling, thanks to Pete posting himself at mid-wicket and sharply moving to square leg.
The bails were sharply removed by Corkie.
For some reason, the scorebook doesn't show it but he also executed a smart stumping to give Richard another wicket.
All the while, Pete toiled away at the other end, his medium swingers tying OWs down but with little reward until James snaffled a catch at mid-on.
At 119 for 9, with roughly six of their alloted 40 to go, OWs were in dire straits.
They rallied once more to 137 for 9.
Having tried out newcomer Tom Pugh (roughly the same height as Tom L, similar build but not snoring while he fielded) for a couple of overs, the Skip brought back Selfish.
He also took a real gamble. He brought himself back on.
The team held its breath. Was this wise?
It was, thankfully, Only one run came off his two overs, one dropped caught and bowled and then redemption by bamboozling the tailender in the flight. The poor man played on.
Excellent fielding by Cincers had helped keep OWs to 143 off 35.
We clapped Richard off the field for his 4 for 30 off 7.
In theory, the target wasn't taxing.
But this was a combined OWs Sunday thirds and seconds.
As for us, we had a couple of new players to bed in.
It was not going to be easy.
Selfish opened up with Dee who's exaggerated 'leaves' outside off (also known as play-and-misses) were soon infuriating the oppo.
Simon ploughed on in the same old way, watchfully playing late and putting away the bad ball away with aplomb.
We moved along steadily, at roughly 3.5 an over - the overall asking rate.
Regardless, Dee started fretting.
Umpiring, the Skip had to remind him that with Selfish at the crease, there was time.
We'd got to about 30 without loss when fate struck.
Having only just stopped mithering about the run-rate, Dee developed a mystery elbow injury and promptly left the field.
That brought in James who clearly has potential to be a heavy-scoring batter but may be needs a winter of nets and coach Frank's tender mercies.
He was bowled for two whereupon Dee (complete with elbow) returned.
It was a brief stay. He was skittled for 11.
Enter Tom L.
And then exit Tom. Immediately.
Sashaying down the wicket first ball to a legspinner (a proper one), he was so far out of his crease he needed a zones one-to-six travelcard to get back.
Forty-two for 3 rapidly became 42 for 4 when new signing Chris Payne, a mate of Richard and James's, was bowled for a duck.
So began the crucial stand. Pete B, better known for his biffing of Cincers' bowling for old enemy BK, strode out.
OWs were confident.
We still needed the best part of 100 and they probably thought we were done for.
The bowling was tight.
But Selfish and Pete were up to the challenge.
Dot balls a-plenty there were but then also the vital boundary here and there.
Drinks came and went but still the partnership continued.
Selfish duly notched yet another 50.
Unfortuately, our scorebook doesn't record exactly when Simon fell - to one that kept very low - but when he went, a shiver went through the watching Cincers.
We still needed four, or just over four, an over and by this time, OWs had brought some serious bowling on.
The Skip, mindful of his suicidal victory-denying run in the previous game, was pacing up and down as he was next but one in.
Thankfully, he was oblivious to the fact that Tom L, doing a long spell of umpiring as punishment for his golden duck, had just told Pete we had no batting left.
(Despite signalling repeatedly to be replaced as umpire - he wanted to use the loo - the Skip refused, saying he needed some time in the middle after that loony shot).
Happily, Corkie didn't hear Tom's 'no batting left' remark either.
He is a 20/20 specialist opening batter. Not one of life's single-takers.
So just as OWs began to smell fear, Corkie nailed them.
Starting with a four, he whacked three boundaries in all to help Pete take us over the line.
As the scoreboard picture shows, Pete finished with an invaluable 39 not out and Corkie with 15 n/o.
A memorable first victory over fine opponents.
To top it off, we gave Tom L a bottle of champers for his birthday.
He didn't open it.
After his first-ball duck, there had to be some limit to the celebrations!
Many thanks to all who turned out.
* Next game - Sunday, August 21 v Weasels at Greenwich Park.
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