What if?

The match against the Muppets could not have been closer. After a tensely contested match it came down to Simon Hunt needing eight off the last two balls. The penultimate delivery he despatched: middle of the bat; devastating pull. FOUR!

Mad Dogs were on their feet, cheering. Muppets shoulders slumped.

What if he did it again?

But what if something else was going through his mind?

“Ah, I know, thinks Simon. I’ll leave it, and we can run 4 byes to the keeper who is standing, oh, at least 5 miles behind the stumps!”

Worth a try?

OK. That’s probably not his thinking, but….it’s what happened. Well, the “leave” happened….

Dogs lose by 3.

But this loss was a genuine team effort.

OK. I’ll start with Billy: As keeper: two catches and a stumping. Out-fielder: a tumbling catch on the boundary. As a bowler: one wicket. Batsman: twice retired, finishing the first effort with a 6.

The Hunts. Simon and Adrian put on 23 in the first innings, and Simon nearly brought us home in the second. Both took wickets, and Simon showed his versatility in the field by using his hands, feet, back and even his bottom to stop the ball.

Anthony surely carved his way to his highest ever score of 14!

Jon took an over to warm up (is 0-16 your worst over ever Jon?!), but then was as tight as, and contributed 15* in the first innings and was a constant threat in the field.

Which brings me to Brendan.

Brendan made so many run-out attempts his right arm was 4 inches longer than his left by 5.00pm and still took a wicket with his first delivery.

And then there was Marcus. What a wily cricketer. Firm hit, in the air, straight towards him. Marcus deliberately removed his hands from harm, chased after the ball, and then ran out the batsman he ummmm could have caught in the first place!

Keith. Keith is SUCH a nice guy. We all know Billy likes to think he’s the best keeper in the side, so what does Keith do? Drops that many catches that Billy is now convinced he’s the best keeper! Then he took a wicket with his first ball in the second innings.

Harry. 27 in the second innings after some tight bowling.

David. Missed out with the bat but patrolled the boundary rope, and nothing got past him.

Peter. Combined with opening partner Harry to complete the most farcical run out in Mad Dogs history, but bowled like Tiger O’Reilly: flight, variation, spin, grin!

Ed. Has never received so many long hops on the off stump. Retired on 26 after 6 fours and a two in the first innings.

But…. What If?

To lose by such a tight margin WAS a team effort.

What if just one shot by any batsman was hit past the fielder instead of straight to him?

What if just one more delivery by any bowler had been of a decent length and line instead of a long hop?

We bowled 19 wides. What if we’d bowled four fewer?

What if four more wides had been called by one of OUR umpires?

But hey, Cricket (and the Muppets) were the winners.