"View from the bar”
After posting a useful total of 208 and a good tight opening spell from James and Kean, the run rate had risen. The crowd that had gathered in the bar were optimistic for a home victory. Dean replaced James and followed Kean’s early wicket with one of his own. By now attention had drifted to the “puggy” without any success and it was time to get another round in before mirages started appearing. Unfortunately the runs started to come too easily as Huntly looked to up the tempo. The tricky off-spin of Blackie was introduced to the attack and the spin option was then pursued at the other end. Attention was once again diverted to the “puggy” as senior Cannon cleaned it out. Some quiet cursing was heard from the spectators in the bar that saw their money disappear. Finbar was struggling to find consistency but picked up a useful wicket.
Soon the mirages started to reappear as reports came in that Baz and Bryce had been seen bowling in tandem once again. Ohh the cruel tricks your mind plays on you when thirst consumes your senses! Quick break out the emergency supplies of Magners. The crowd were getting restless so the decision was taken by some to go for a lap of the Oval. This proved perilous as the heavens opened at the halfway stage and a quick dash for shelter to Howie’s car was required.
The runs were still haemorrhaging for the bowlers but Big Baz managed to pick up a wicket. James was re-introduced to stem the flow of runs with some success and Blackie also made a return to the action. The toasties had been ordered and eaten and the last remaining sandwiches from tea that look edible had been consumed. Things were getting desperate both in the bar and on the field. The general feeling of optimism had now changed to a slightly hazy one of pessimism. Surely at 174-4 there was to be no way back for Forthill.
Suddenly the live action was halted as a fairly docile match erupted into controversy. In the 32nd over a slow looping ball from Blackie was met by the batsmen advancing down the wicket and top edging a ball that he had turned into a high full-toss. A good catch was taken by Dean in the covers but the celebrations were cut short when the square-leg umpire called no-ball. Agreement was soon reached in the bar that it should not have been called a no-ball. This was confirmed after consultation of the laws of cricket that Dick carries with him at all times. Law 42.6(b)(ii) – Dangerous and unfair Bowling – Bowling of High Full pitched balls. A slow ball having to pass above shoulder height to be called a no-ball.
There was much discussion on the field and the square-leg umpire couldn’t be persuaded to change his mind. Even after the merits of the decision were put to him by the level-headed Ted who was umpiring at the bowlers end.
There was much consternation in the bar and several spectators came and went grumbling about the incident. The batsmen that had been let off had not long prior to the incident, reached his century. This made it a key wicket in the eyes of the bar crowd. Play resumed with a petulant mood that stated quite clearly that the home side did not agree with the decision. Blackie bowled a few “slower than normal” deliveries. Kean was back on at the other end and did well not to let the drama put him off, he bowled a good over. Then, in his next over Blackie picked up a wicket, bowling the batsmen that hadn’t been caught off the no-ball. This left the score at 177-5. Kean continued to bowl well and a few more runs were accumulated. Still it didn’t look likely that a victory could be snatched from the jaws of defeat.
It wasn’t until the 38th over with the score on 197 that the next phase of the drama started to unfold. Blackie picked up two wickets in two balls and started the revolving door to the visitors changing rooms. The crowd were now getting quite vocal and with twelve runs still required and a few less than capable looking batsmen exiting the revolving doors, victory still looked possible. The Huntly centurion who had been given the second chance was still at the crease and there were plenty of overs left.
Time for some magic from Keano! Wickets with the first three balls of the thirty-ninth over saw the Huntly reply capitulate to 198 all out. It was a magnificent turnaround and one that was surely deserved. The celebrations after the last wicket fell were all the more sweet given the controversy that had turned the game into such drama.