Brave effort as Sibley runs out the skipper

A brave effort from the Stags chasing 249 against a strong Sunbury team ultimately ended 22 runs short.

Sunbur got off to a flyer and raced to about 75-1 off the first ten overs before Mark Sibley and Will Culhane brought some semblance of order to proceedings with their spin combo. With Patrick Murray, Ben Sidwell in particular bowling well, the Stags did wwell to limit Sunbury to 248 - 7 as it could have been much higher.

Nonetheless it was a stiff target as Sam Gale and Jordan Nichols took to the wicket with the Stags needing a strong opening patnership to set them on their way. However at 18-2 with both openers out cheaply, life wasn't looking so rosy. Enter the ageing musketeers, Paul Sidwell and Mark Sibley. This experienced settled down for the next hour or so and took the score onto 59 before Sidwell was bowled by the first ball of Gopi's spell. A partnership of 64 then ensued between Patrick Murray and Sibley, with Sibley being the dominant partner before Murray was caught for 14.

The skipper by this stage had been prowling along the boundary waiting to come in as the run rate increased to over 8 an over at this stage. It was going need something special to turn the game around.

And so it came to pass. Sibley's legs finally gave up on him and he called for a runner, allegedly for the first time in his career. Having been almost run out on the last ball of the 32nd over by wandering out of his crease whilst his runner ran, he contrived to run his very bitter and unforgiving skipper out next ball.

Having clipped one to the man behind square on 45, the skipper caled yes. He was halfway down the pitch and moving at speed but comfortably going to make it, as was Patrick Murray, Sibley's runner, in the opposite direction. Suddenly, there is a cry of "WAIT" from Sibley, who is not even supposed to be involved at this stage.

Everyone stops. Except unfortunately the Sunbury fielder, who now has enough time to gather the ball and throw to the bowler who calmly removed the bails. Skipper unhappy. Sibley stares at the ground.

OK, these things happen! So, it is down to Sibley to take a firm control of the match, even though he is crippled and can't move. However, the very next ball, he topples out of his crease (no doubt as a result of his leg injury) and is stumped for 69. Two balls two wickets and the future is looking very bleak.

It was only 45 minutes later, that Sibley mentions in passing that for a split second he thought he had to run, realised he wasn't going tp make it and hence shouted "wait". Fortunately the skipper is not a bitter man and has clearly already forgotten the incident happened (not).

The time was now ripe for a few cameos from Ian Geddes (35*), Will Culhane (13), Ben Geddes (20 before being run out by his dad) and Ollie Cooper who banished some of his first over nightmare with a rumbustious 14 not out.

So we lost by 22 runs. We now need to win on Saturday to avoid relegation - so its lucky we're only playing the Champions elect! See you in the bar afterwards (that includes you Mark!)