The Treasury

4th Jun 2015 - Barnes
Won by 28 runs - NRR = 1.4

There are some sporting performances that are so remarkable that they transcend the boundaries of their game. Hirst scoring his hatrick to confirm it really was all over; Botham's Ashes; the swing of Jonny's right boot to win the World Cup. To these we must add Duffy v The Treasury.

The game threw up several noticeable storylines – six players scoring over 20 runs in a mammoth total of 179, which perhaps should have been even greater; Milton nearly out for a duck again first ball, the fielder failing to catch the ball hit right at him; Grant batting like a colossus; Justin's inevitable return to form; an outrageous umpire decision from the Treasury captain by not giving a blatant run-out - but these were all relegated from the back pages by the all-round contribution from Duffy.



CIPACC batting first, his powerful 22 from just 11 deliveries, with one particularly lusty blow to the huge leg side boundary, was noteworthy in itself. But it was a CIPA batting display almost without blemish, with two players retiring and Milton slogging at the death with a strike rate well over 200.

So it was the final over of the game that captured the imagination. The captain in generous mood in light of CIPA's dominance, Duffy was given the last over in the gloaming. The start was inauspicious: first two deliveries, both swept hard for 4. But the leg-spin magic soon kicked in. The fourth delivery turned sharply, the batsman slogged and missed, and the ball clattered into middle stump. Next ball, another good-length ripping turner, it fizzed past the lunging bat, and Shearman adroitly whipped off the bails.

The tension was palpable for the hatrick ball. The team encircled the batsman. The square was alive with chatter: half the team were wishing James encouragement; a more vocal half, comprising the usual suspects, were praying against a wicket.

Duffy bounced into his bowling stride, but, tightening up, he dragged his googly down. There was even time for Spurr and co to breathe/laugh a sigh of relief as the batsman played forward tentatively to defend such an apparently harmless delivery. BUT - he played inside the line and the ball, a rank second-bouncing yorker length, cannoned into off-stump! The first recorded CIPACC hatrick.*

Words cannot do justice to the jubilant scenes. James cartwheeled away to the off-side, arms outstretched reminiscent of Vincenzo Montella. He slipped on the lush green of the square and was soon mobbed by delighted teammates. The disbelieving batsman slowly dragged himself from the field.

An amazing day, and one I'm sure we'll hear tell of again...



*Addendum: in the next match, Duffy took a wicket with the first delivery of his first over, thereby taking 4 in 4.

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