Uphill Castle Thunder hosted Backwell Flax Fire at The Castle Ground on 8 July on a very sunny and warm afternoon. Flax Fire won the toss and elected to bat in the first innings.

The Fire opened with the partnership of A. Parsons and T. Baughan and The Thunder opened the bowling attack with C. Huke and M. Bliss. Despite not taking any wickets in the first 10 balls, the level of bowling was able to keep Backwell to only 4 runs off the first 10 balls. The low runs continued into the next set bowled by C. Beal, restricting them to only 8 off the 15 deliveries. T. Robinson then bowled the fourth set taking the two big wickets of A. Parsons and T. Baughan.

Castle Thunder continued to keep Flax Fire run rate low for most of the innings with the wickets continuing to fall with C. Huke dismissing M. Taffinder. This was closely followed by C. Beal taking the wickets of both R. Wilsher and B. Cowell. Flax Fire had a score of 105-5 with 10 balls remaining. The death bowling of M. Bliss and C. Huke continued to limit Backwell’s score. On the last ball of M. Bliss set he took the wicket of M. Collis-Smith leaving C.Huke to bowl the final set which only went for 6 runs The Fire finished the innings on 123-6.

Castle Thunder opened the batting with S. Habibkheil and T. Robinson to get the run chase underway. S. Habibkheil scored a quick 7 runs before being dismissed by T. Baughan at the end of the second set. H. Frake took his place on the crease and joined T. Robinson in the run chase.

After the dismissal of T. Robinson for 10, C. Huke was bowled first ball by T. Baughan, quickly bringing M. Bliss to the crease. A strong partnership began to build between M. Bliss and H. Frake, continuing to close the gap between Castle Thunder and Flax Fire’s score.

C. Beal was brought to the crease after M. Bliss was dismissed on 32 with Castle Thunder needing 31 more to win off the last 20 balls. The Thunder’s chase was assisted by a run of wides and no balls by Flax Fire’s bowlers. The pressure then began to build even more, with C. Beal and H. Frake needing 20 0ff the last 10.

The 10 balls started with C. Beal on strike and 3 dot balls before scoring a single to get H. Frake on strike who scored four four’s one after the other before taking another single, putting C. Beal on strike. Now, only a single was needed on the last ball in order for The Thunder to win the game and as the bowler ran in to bowl, a silence had fallen onto the crowd outside the clubhouse before C. Beal placed the ball into mid-wicket to quickly run the single and win the game. There was now cheering outside the clubhouse! H. Frake finished the innings with 36 not out and C. Beal on 7 not out.

Uphill Castle Thunder winning the game by 6 Wickets….

Castle Thunder 124 for 4 off 100 Balls
Backwell Flax Fire 123 for 6 off 100 Balls