Set against the backdrop of another pommy castle, the Crossbats met at Windsor for the penultimate match before the tour to Italy.
The Crossbats were bouyed by the previous evening's 20/20 success and had arrived focused on another victory.
Dunbar had a firm game plan after having suffered through some dismal time game efforts and when the coin landed it all kicked into action with the Crossbats skipper electing to field first.
Back in the picture and hoping to make up some ground on 2008 bolter Reeve, was Clive Lawrence. Lawrence was trusted with the new ball and it wasn't long before he was picking up wickets. The opening pair for Cranbourne were removed without fuss and Lawrence was looking at his best. Dunbar was keeping things tight from the castle end and the pressure was bringing wickets.
At 50/3 Crossbats were in a solid position. Fitch and Gumbley relieved the opening pair and continued to build the pressure, resulting in a good wicket to Fitch. Gumbley however was in the wars again and was struck whilst attempting a caught and bowled, bringing his spell to a premature end. The skipper then looked to his strike bowler Reeve for additional wickets. Unfortunately for Reeve this wasn't his day and the Cranbourne batsmen targeted him for some much needed momentum. Fraser was also employed to take wickets with similar results to Reeve and both were dragged before serious harm was done.
Ageing spin option Winch was afforded a handful of overs and would have had an early breakthrough had it not been for the slippery fingers of the captain. However, Winch was rewarded for some wylie bowling with a wicket to add to his impressive tally from Friday night.
Dunbar returned to the crease to pick up a wicket by virtue of a sharp catch from Winch at first slip and his opening partner Lawrence was also bought back on to claim his third and fourth wickets to finish his spell with an impressive 4 for.
Collier came on to perform the last rights, removing the final two batsmen and sending Cranbourne to tea with 165 to defend.
Crossbats had toiled in the field for 48 overs and given that this was a time game, they had been left 45 minutes and 20 overs to get the runs. Crossbats had feilded arguabley one of it's strongest batting lineups and all were confident of knocking off the runs in time for an early evening beer with Her Majesty.
Pineapple, rock melon and coconut were but a few of the delights on offer at the tea break and in the warm temperatures the tropical fruits were a big hit. Strangely ironic however was that the crossbats top order was not........
Collier and Spiro were first to the crease to face an upbeat Ray 'The Razor' Spencer aka Angry Anderson. It wasn’t long before Razor claimed his first victim, beating Collier with one that stayed low and sending him back to the hut for 0. Winch was in and out in a matter of moments, falling to a very sharp catch at silly mid on. Spiro was joined by Wright, who had a cool, calm feel about his approach. Unfortunately this didn't rub off on Spiro who was bowled moments later to leave the
Crossbats reeling at 12/3. Carter was in next and was looking to steady the ship, but it wasn't long before Razor got the better of him, bowling Carter for not many . Fitch looked to be in good touch, starting with a lovely boundary. He looked settled at the crease and it was a real blow to the crossbats when he was dismissed for 9, leaving the team languishing at 19/5. With hope's of victory fading fast, Fraser joined Wright at the crease and managed only 5 before he too was sent packing.
At 27/6 and 10 minutes + 20 overs remaining, Crossbats were in dire straits. Dunbar joined Wright at the crease and the pair had a brief discussion about saving face.
The pair managed to see off Razor Spencer, who's figures of 5/14 were more than impressive.
Wright and Dunbar negociated Crossbats to the first hurdle, 20 overs to play and 135 runs required. Spencer was replaced by some very average spin bowling and with personal enjoyment the only realistic achievement, Dunbar opened his shoulders and punished the bowling with a couple of boundaries and a six. Wright was comfortable at the other end facing the left arm seamer, picking runs off his legs at leisure and the pair took crossbats past fifty.
These two chaps were looking increasingly comfortable at the crease, turning the strike and hitting the bad ball, focused on what they could achieve personally and maybe, just maybe, hanging in there long enough to save the draw.
The longer they stayed the dimmer the Cranbourne mood became and a little in fighting began to creep in. Dunbar was looking in very good touch, driving cleanly and clearing the boundary rope on a handful of occassions. All of a sudden the scoreboard read 10 overs remaining and 60 runs required.......could this actually happen?
Composed and relaxed at the crease, the pair continued in exactely the same vein. Dunbar reached his fifty with a boundary and it all seemed to become quite possible. Wright continued to plunder runs off the left armer and was running two's hard and even getting through for 3's on a couple of occassions.
Cranbourne, realising the imminent danger and embarrassment, tried various options without success and when Dunbar found a couple of sixes and a few more runs from one over, the equation had slimmed to just 15 runs off 5 overs.............
Wright, playing the knock of his season kept the runs ticking over with yet more beautiful shots off his legs and the crossbats looked home and hosed.
Dunbar drew the scores level with 3 overs remaining - This pair had put on 138 for the 7th wicket and had done the job. Jubelation was the feeling that gripped both batsmen and with a flick of the wrists, Dunbar hit the winning....................was OUT, caught at square leg! Oh how he would've loved to hit those winning runs! No matter, he had played his part brilliantly and finished with a season high 83 and rediscovered some form.
Lawrence came to the crease to get the job done and he did just that, sealing victory for crossbats from the most unlikely of positions. Wright was overjoyed and finished with a fabulous 43*.
This was one of Crossbats finest victory’s and it was just the type of result we had been searching for.
Next Sunday, it's the North London Muslims and following that we will come to you live from the sandy beaches of Rimini.
La cane nero é caro.