AS THE Twenty20 Cup prepares to explode back into action today, there was a timely reminder of the 20-over game’s capacity to produce exciting finishes in the npower Village Cup on Sunday. When a downpour interrupted the match between Oakmere and Tattenhall in mid-afternoon, the Cheshire clubs agreed to start again at 5.30pm, playing 20 overs per side.
Tattenhall batted first and made 111 for six, in pursuit of which Oakmere needed 12 off the final over, to be bowled by Mel Dobson, the off spinner. The previous day, Dobson had demonstrated his cool head in similar circumstances in a league match against Sale, taking the tenth wicket with the final ball of the match to clinch victory. “I was thinking that the law of averages meant that I’d probably blow it on this occasion,” he said.
From the third ball, he was hit by Peter Hutchinson to the mid-wicket boundary, where Gary Forster spilt the catch over the ropes for six. The final two balls both featured run-outs as Oakmere batsmen attempted second runs and Tattenhall won by a run.