WEEKENDERS TUCK IN AT CHIPPY

Chippenham 194-8 dec. (43.2 overs)

WCC 195-6 (39.3 overs).

WCC won by four wickets.

The coldest day many could remember on a cricket field produced an absolute sizzler and another last-over finish, with Cooper, once again, involved at the end. He now has 108  undefeated runs and a bowling average of 6.67. One or two overexcited teammates have suggested that Sparkles should take over the running of the country but that's very unlikely to happen bcause it's recently emerged that he didn't go to Eton. He is neither a dry nor wet bob, not an oppidan or a scug although he admits he did once find himself next to Prince Harry in the gents. The experience may have taught him how to handle himself at a strip-billiards beasting but he's still a long shot for PM.    

Sparkles was arguably overshadowed by someone who does run the country, or at any rate knows where everyone lives. Senior civil servant Peter Lee's chirping from behind the stumps was backed up by robust action with the bat. His aggressive, hard-running knock of 83 set the stage for the grandest of finales, and no one would deny him the right to talk about it for a very long time to come, albeit at Restricted Clearance Level 3.

The Weekenders fielded first and, with the ball swinging at both ends, they restricted the home side to 30-1 after 16 overs, Nick Dibley being especially hard to play. Some of the middle overs were slightly less tight but Raj Sood, taking over from Dibley, harried the batsmen with swing and awkward pace. He fully deserved his 3 wickets, and better catching would have brought a hatful for the Boy Named Sood.

The home side reckoned their total of 194 was slightly below par on such an excellent wicket but to Weekenders with long memories, it seemed a great big, cold, nasty mountain to climb. Not that there was a scintilla of pessimism evident in the bustling opening stand of 58 from Husaini and Lee. But wobbling around the midriff is a Weekenders charactistic and the three noughts in mid-innings were as unsightly as they were expected. After Lee's departure, Dibley's fresh legs helped Cooper raise the run rate and take the game into the final over for the second Sunday in succession. With four balls left, Dibley's biff through extra cover ended a two-year unbeaten run for all five of Chippenham's teams.   

This was one of our greatest chases, up there with the win at Hertford in 2001 and Rich Maloney's pursuit of a mini-scotch egg that nearly rolled off the tea table at Garboldisham. The win was achieved without ringers or bent umpiring, just a handful of Weekenders playing out of their bulging skins. Then there was the tea. Not just the best tea of the season but the best meal many of us are likely to enjoy this year: potato wedges, warmed potato wedges at that. Mike Harvey's three-pavlova record remains intact but it was carnage among the savoury platters.

Chippenham 194-8 dec. (43.2 overs)

Heather 6, Wright 10, Bryant 52, Ward 17, Thuillez 17, Fishpool 46, Van der Peer 15, Holmes 6, Sadler 1*.

Bowling:

Douglas 8-4-16-0, Dibley 8-3-9-1, Sood 10-0-40-3, Dunne 8.3-0-34-0, Husaini 3.3-0-35-0, Saunders 3.2-0-29, Cooper 2-0-8-2

Catches: Dunne 1, Sood 1

WCC 195-6 (39.3 overs)

Lee 83, Husaini 20, Wahi 5, Cooper 48*, McDonald 0, Saunders 0, Douglas 0, Dibley 18*

Debut: Dan Saunders