20/20 Knock – Friday 24th June 2016 – Rainbows & Dreams​- Kindly written by Paul Williams​

20/20 Knock – Friday 24th June 2016 – Rainbows & Dreams – Kindly written by Paul Williams.
The first knock of the season and with the air still heavy with Brexit uncertainty, 22 men took to the field to put all European matters aside with the glorious game.
With no oppo Elstead fielded two teams Red led by Little and Blue by Baz. Baz won the toss and with the help of Disney as advisor, “Let’s bat second so I can have a drink” we began.
Reds got off to an excellent start with Holland, Danny and Shaun dispatching the early bowling from the Blues, with a little help from some red sided fielding by Deighton.
A few quick wickets spelled trouble for the reds before Chaplain steadied the ship and added a few reverse sweep trick shots that John Virgo would have been proud of to get the score back on track.
Baz keeping his over back to face Little, decided to give him a taste of his own pies and lobbed up a ball that for a moment had Little staring in appreciation. However as the ball descended back to the pitch Little connected and with the ball moving towards a Welshman, Little fancied his chances and set off. A throw to the stumps with an angle so tight Pythagoras would have had trouble working out, Little was still only half-way as Williams connected with the stumps to send him back to the pavilion.
The reds posted a respectable score of 156 and after a quick tea (pint) the Blues were put in to bat. With Lincoln casually swinging across the straightest ball of the evening it was only Nathan and Baz that posted any scores of value in the top order.
There was an early sign that the evening was going to be special with a request from Witherby asking Munden to “Knock it over Bartlet’s head” and Munden delivering a six that did just that. Munden putting in a seasons best performance with cork, willow and glass, the latter finishing at 3:30am.
Max Holland appeared to be in every fielding position for the reds and with 4 catches it looked as though he had dipped his hands in Araldite and the Blues looked to be in real trouble.
Rob Smith and Disney added a few to the score including the longest run of the evening with Smith appreciating how slow the outfield had become after the spell of rain and Disney with a slide that belonged on third base of the New York Yankees.
The total seemed to be slipping away for the blues before a very smart piece of batting by Shep, falling on his sword and perfectly placing a tempting catch to Holland allowing the big Aussie hitter back in.
With Nathan back in, Little in a captain gesture that would have impressed Nostradamus gave up his bowling so Soothill could send in the last over.
With the Blues needing 31 off the last, Little already practicing his winning speech the game looked over. But this was a night of belief, somewhat fuelled by drink but belief none the less. Nathan then preceded to smash Soothill across the four corners of Elstead including four sixes that left the residents of Pot Common feeling under siege, and the Blues believing with every ball the impossible was on.
35 off the last over, the reds with heads in hands. The blues finished on 161. Honours to Baz’s Blues. A pitch invasion was a fitting end to an excellent match. A great night for 20/20, a wonderful night for Elstead Cricket Club and a fantastic night for the bar….apparently. A re-match looks inevitable.