Where There's a Wilkin There's a Way

DARREN GOSLING CAPTURES THE BUILD UP AND THE INCREDIBLE TENSION,  WHICH LED TO A WIN AGAINST THE AULD ENEMY. EVEN IF YOU KNOW THE RESULT THIS IS A NERVE RACKING READ TO THE VERY END. 

With both teams sitting joint bottom of the South Table, with no chance of progressing and the weather forecast predicting Armageddon, it is fair to say I was less than enthusiastic as I trudged in the rain to Twickenham Station along side my Surrey pal Rich to witness the wooden spoon match.

Despite Surrey’s far superior record in this competition over the years – the Brown Caps/Lions made the first four Finals Days versus Middlesex’s 56 defeats from 95 matches (the worst record of any county) - there has been nothing to choose between us this season.

Only the previous evening both had yet again failed miserably, The Panthers making one of their lowest scores of 109 all out, while the Lions did make their lowest ever score of 88 all out.

Both teams welcomed back their leading scorers this season, the Lions Wilson replacing Burns, while the Panthers Stirling replaced Denly – Murts also replaced TRJ as the Irish contingent took a break from playing the Afghans.

The match started with a familiar feel, the Panthers lost the toss for seventh time in nine matches and for the sixth time found ourselves bowling first up.

Having failed three times this week with scores of 0, 7 and 8 I fancied KP to top score, having checked the odds and discovered them to be only 5/2 though, I couldn’t be bothered.

KP then duly top scored with 42 and along with Davies (a T20 season’s best of 37) proceeded to steadily build a solid platform for the Lions.

Indeed at the halfway stage the Lions were 76-0 and looking good for a score in the region of 170ish.

With the first ball of the next over Smith bowled Davies to finally break the opening partnership, this brought to the crease Jason Roy - scorer of the only Lions century in this competition.

KP and Roy were just beginning to pick the tempo up when KP was adjudged caught behind off AC’s third delivery of the fifteenth over.

The in-form Wilson joined Roy and they proceeded to plunder 41 runs in a little over four overs, before Crook returned to bowl the nineteenth over make a mess of Roy’s stumps.

This over from Crook and the final over from Murts arguably proved to be match-winning ones, as the Lions who still looked capable of posting 170 scored just 9 runs off the bat from the final two overs to close on 154-4 with Ansari being run out by Simpson off the final ball of the innings.

Rich asked me at this point if I was confident of the Panthers chasing down 155 to win, I said it was probably too much for us. Of course I was secretly optimistic if Stirling could score another 50/60 then we could win – just didn’t want to make a bold statement and end up with egg on my face!

The Panthers innings began unbelievably well as Dexter dispatched Kartik’s first three deliveries all to the boundary – Middx12-0 off 3 balls and Rich was swearing into his beer!

The first wicket fell in the second over as Tremlett had Stirling caught by Batty, which brought Stephen Crook to the crease. Crook had mainly batted at 8 or 9 so far and was presumably promoted to take advantage of the field being up in the power play overs.

Though his innings last 10 balls, Crook certainly did take advantage, Nannes conceding 21 off his first over as Crook smashed two huge sixes and two fours.

Crook departed for 25 c De Bruyn b Tremlett, followed one ball later by Rossington who was sharply stumped by Davies off Kartik for a two ball duck.

The powerplay overs closed with Malan at the crease with Dexter (who seemed to be anchoring the innings) and the Panthers 59-3. Up on runs but down on wickets compared to the Lions 50-0.

So often the Panthers achilles heel, spin was then introduced through the middle overs and the Panthers once again succumbed by losing wickets at regular intervals as Ansari, Batty and Kartik all enjoyed success. Simpson in particular didn’t seem to have a clue against Batty, but was finally put out of his misery when he was clean bowled.

By the close of the 14^th over the Panthers found themselves 106-7 needing a further 49 runs to win from 36 balls and two new batsmen (Rayner & Wilkin) at the crease.

Rich had great pleasure at this point in letting me know “that the fat lady was beginning to clear her throat”.  I couldn’t say anything as thought he was right.

 Over the next few overs though Rayner and Wilkin continued to keep the Panthers in with a chance as 49 from 36, became 43 from 30,  then 36 from 24.

Ansari returned to bowl the 17^th over and went for 12 runs as Wilkin in particular with 10 (including a six) kept up the run chase. De Bruyn bowled the 18^th and he too went for 12 runs, Wilkin again the chief destroyer with another 10 runs including two boundaries.

 With just 12 runs from 12 balls required I was now quietly confident, oh and the fat lady seemed to have gone strangely quiet.

 Tremlett bowled the 19^th over and five singles kept the target at a run a ball until Wilkin dispatched the final ball to the boundary to leave the Panthers needing just 3 runs for victory off the last over.

 What looked like certain victory then became probably the most tense final over since that famous victory at the Rose Bowl in 2008.  A hero of ours that day Dirk Nannes returned to bowl it – brave call from Batty seeing as Nannes’ only over so far went for 21 runs!

 Nannes duly delivered removing Rayner first ball, as Ollie tried to finish the match with a lofted shot over Batty who made good ground to take a well judged catch.

152-8, though new batsmen Murtagh was spared the strike however as Rayner/Wilkin had crossed leaving Wilkin on strike. Next ball was a dot, 3 runs required off 4 balls.

 The pressure then got to Wlikin as he attempted a suicidal single only to be run out by Batty. Batty had so much time he actually ran to the stumps and broke the wicket without releasing the ball from his hands.

Even though I now thought we had blown it, you had to take your hat off to Wilkin who has only just turned 20 and in only his second first XI match, played a fine knock under real pressure to score 28 off just 18 balls and take us within a boundary of victory.

152-9 with 3 still needed of the last 3 balls, both the Surrey players and supporters seemed to be celebrating the win already.

Murts managed a single to leave Tom Smith to face his first ball from Nannes with 3 needed from 2 balls.  Smith hit a straight drive back past the bowler and narrowly avoided the fielder at mid on as the ball reached the boundary to secure victory by one wicket with one ball to spare.

Brilliant I thought to myself, “What a load of f*****g s**t” screamed Rich. I didn’t say anything at the time as I could tell he wasn’t happy, but I have been to ASDA and purchased a large wooden spoon that I will leave on his desk Monday morning……

For the Sorry trophy cabinet or Rich's desk.