We played yesterday, and TBH I have never played in such a strange game in my life, especially as captain.
It all started at around 10.15 when I get a call from oppo skipper saying they didn't cover the wicket on Thursday and the rain got on it and it's still wet despite being covered since! They are unsure whether to play etc etc... I say our lads have already left so we're coming over let's see how it is.
Get there the wicket is wet but not unplayable, an old school sticky dog basically. After lots of talk with the umpires and their skipper, a wet outfield and rain in the air, we decided to reduce to 35 overs and a 1.30pm start. By this time their skipper has told me they have 5 guys that don't want to play!! I said I have 11 that do so we have an issue then.
I lose the toss and we are batting, the track plays as expected it is impossible to drive on if ball is bowled in the right area, but they bowl enough bad balls for us to get to 196-8 (I swept my way to 26 before holing out to square leg). A very good score on that wicket I though.
Then we bowled really well at the start, I got a legside stumping 3rd ball, we picked up another couple of wickets and they were behind the rate quickly. This all happened during constant rain and them moaning about playing etc... when the oppo are 66-4 needing 12's we come off for rain, and I think we'll that's it we've been screwed!
But somehow it stops, sun comes out and we get back out there, we take another wicket, 79-5, they still need 12's. Then came one of the most ridiculous innings I have seen in the 30 years I have been playing cricket.
The number 7 came out and from ball 1 timed it off any length like no-one had been able to all day, put 7 balls out the ground, to score a match winning 65* off 32 balls!!!! Some of the cleanest striking I have seen. While the number 6 sensibly gave him the strike and got a run a ball 50 himself. They put on 120 and won it with an over to spare.
While for 90% of the day the oppo didn't want to play at all and were moaning about the whether, I walked off the ground completely shell shocked having lost. The bloke who scored those runs has only ever scored 1 other 50 in his life..... so just goes to show there is hope for everyone!