Grappenhall had recently hosted our victorious day for the 2s T20 finals, and the 4s hoped for similar success as they travelled to Broad Lane. It was a resounding 123 run victory for Didsbury in the reverse fixture. Perhaps with that in mind, Grappenhall won they toss and stuck the 4s in to bat.

A strong 103 run partnership would lay a great foundation for Didsbury with Evan Turner and Ringo batting emphatically against some steady bowling from Grappenhall's young side. Both rode their luck with several tough chances going down. Ringo would fall after a well-paced 36, a good catch from their keeper. Mike Renison would join Evan, who continued to score fluently and the pair would put on another 30 before one would sneak through the gate causing Evan to depart for a brilliant 78 off just 84. Dev Meena and Mike would pile on the runs as they too had a solid 70+ run partnership. Mike falling for 32 off 37, saying the words "I thought I'd let you have a go" to the captain, Jack Prince as he walked off. The skipper was grateful and repaid Mike's kindness by top edging a full toss to be dismissed for 0. Dev would carry on making a outstanding quickfire 51* off 46 to put the 4s in a commanding position at the halfway point, finishing on 223.

With a good total on the board, Didsbury's openers of Noah Brown and Dillon Harris set off in the hunt for early wickets. Both openers looked solid, but Noah found an early wicket at 26-1, a sharp caught behind by Harry Youell. Shaad Shibly replaced Dillon at one end, and Seb Byrne would replace Noah after their spells, and both would feel the wrath of their number 3 who hit pretty decent balls as far as he could. With the rain falling and causing the ball to slip once or twice, Grappenhall's runrate soared as their number 3 passed 50 off just 30 deliveries. Shaad found a breakthrough, a brilliant running catch by Seb at backward point as one swing too many found the top edge. Another wicket would follow quickly, bowled by Jack but Grappenhall's young opener continued to bat and bat. Another great catch by Harry off a top edge from the skippers bowling finally dislodged him. However this was the last wicket Didsbury would manage to take, as the final pair took advantage of some less-than-stellar fielding by the 4s to see their side home just four down and three overs to spare.

A strange day really, we batted as well as we always did and I don't think we bowled particularly badly. I would also suggest we fielded better than Grappenhall did, but it was certainly our worst fielding performance of the season (a good time to do it, with the league already won!). Quite frankly, Grappenhall's young top order combined with the powerful hitting of their number 3 was too good on the day for our usually dominant bowling attack to get through. That, combined with our lower standards in the field, and some genuine bad luck, meant it was not our day. But in the grander scheme of things, everyone got to bat or bowl, we enjoyed an excellent game of cricket, and we are still champions. The 4s get to redeem ourselves next week for our final game of the season against NE Cheshire at home. Please come down and support, and celebrate the end of another fantastic season for our Sunday cricket!