Page 35 - WPHCCC 2024-2025 Yearbook

grand total of approx. 10 runs for the year. Griff has dismissed him at least the last 8 times in a row. But Preeds wanted him in and together, they HAD to get the job done. 26 runs to get off 42 balls.
After a couple of sighters and a flukey two around the corner, Lichaaa took the first risk against Griff and lofted him over mid-on for a couple. Will Fiedler collected and there was some jeers from the sidelines on whether it was four as his legs hit the fence to collect. The crowd tensions were at an all time high - many of the lower graders from both clubs had come to witness this titanic finish. In a rare occurrence for A Grade, there was some atmosphere. 20 runs to get, 5 overs left.
Despite the equation, there was a unique level of calmness between Preeds and Lichaaa. Preeds had batted for hours in the heat, yet looked as fresh as daisy - he was locked in and in the zone. He was being given the single to get Lichaaa on strike, but despite that, he punished the bad balls to the boundary too. It was a sterling knock, but the job had to be finished.
Davenport bowled the 4th to last over and this turned out to be the straw that broke the camels back - in more ways than one. Lichaaa punched one to Fiedler at mid-on and called for a quick single, Fiedler misfielded and so WPH were able to double up and keep Lichaaa on strike. Lower grade folk legend, Rockin' Ray Khamis acted on the earlier jeers to the Berowra captain and yelled out to remind him of the mid-field. The Berowra crowd lept to defend and squared up against RRK and his team of disciples, including one Matt "Diggers" (note Gas, that is with a D) Digby. Pushing and shoving commenced and many of the crowd rushed to defuse the situation.
It was all getting a bit too heated with just 5 runs needed to win. Lichaaa decided to cool it off a little, belting a Davenport full toss to the rope for 4.
One run to get for victory, 3 overs left in the day.
Regardless of the outcome, this was test cricket at its finest. Two full days in a see-sawing battle had come down to the final 20 mins of play. Preeds was on strike, his knock the cornerstone of the run chase. Griff was looking to keep it tight but P had other ideas, he smashed a length ball over the heads of the infield for 4.
Chaos ensued. We had done it. We had actually done it. Preeds and Lichaaa embraced in the middle - they had put on 30 runs for the 8th wicket to get the team home. Preeds 86 not out, his highest A Grade score and crowning moment. The team raced out to greet them, radiating smiles and relief. A decade of gut wrenching losses had been washed away. K becoming the 4th captain in WPHCCCC history to lead an A Grade side to victory.