A belated round-up (apologies, end of season prep taking over!) of an unforgettable weekend, and before I offer a few words about the magnificent 1s, and pass mention of the 2As loss at Maritamian hands and the women’s 1s going down in a reduced overs game at Nantwich on Sunday, let’s also take a moment to hail Ryan and the 2s, crowned Premier Div champions for the third successive year, a brilliant achievement.

The 2s are in an extraordinary run of success. Their title win this year is actually the fourth time in the last five seasons post-covid they have been champions. The only year they didn’t win it (2022) they came second behind Chester BH’s record 500 pts (when it was 25 for a win, plus it was the old win-lose-draw format), and they won the T20 that year in any case, one of three successive triumphs in that. They’ve been T20 winners or finalists every season since Covid which is no mean feat.

Saturday saw the 2s over the line in style, having won the crucial game against the only side that could catch them the week before. Chris Becker capped off a fabulous season at home with his third ton of the campaign, an imperious 142* which took him past 1000 runs in all comps. He and Jack added 161 to take them over the hills and far away, Widnes never likely to get remotely close to the 326 target, and in the event they washed up 168 runs short, Top Catt taking his season’s tally to 64 wkts with 6-25. A fantastic way to finish at home, concluding another hugely impressive campaign at relegated Stockport Georgians next Sat.

I was umpiring at Hale Barns on Saturday and the relatively early finish (nothing to do with my decisions, btw!) meant I could get across to see the denouement of a supremely constructed 1s chase at Bowdon, continuing their amazing league form. Charlie’s cover drive to reach his first ever Dids ton was worth the journey on its own, although the boundary didn’t seem too far away from Hale barns, so vast was the outfield. It could have been the first ton I have seen reached by an all-run five but the ball just got to the rope to save Charlie and Tim the effort.

Henrik has already penned a most readable and accurate summation of a thoroughly gripping game of cricket on Sunday and, aside from adding my own congratulations on a wonderful win, a few observations as I viewed the game from all round the ground before finally making camp with the Dids VIP section, although what Barbs was doing in there is anybody’s guess.

You wouldn't have thought it possible to top the drama of the 2024 final and yet somehow the 1s did it. Or maybe equalled it? Whatever your view, it was without doubt an epic match, one of the most riveting I have seen with a purely watching brief. The way it swung one way, then another, at several different junctures is what makes cricket the game it is. The frustration of a number of soft dismissals and the increasing noise of the large Lindow contingent. The sheer elation amongst us when Sam and Will clattered that precious 44 stand with such aplomb. Then all out with seven balls unused – not ideal. But a total that would take some getting. Some thought it was enough, others disagreed, several just weren't sure.

I think actually that 175 was a better score than, say, 275 in the circumstances. The bigger the score, Lindow would only play one way, and they’re a very dangerous team in that regard. But a gettable target, although not straightforward, might just induce a bit of confusion into their approach. Do we go hard from the off? Do we take it easy as the pitch isn’t overly aiding strokeplay and just accumulate, use all the overs to get there?

In the event the openers went hard but discovered to their cost that doing so on a September afternoon with a red ball on a pitch not quite coming on wasn’t advisable. Alex and the General gave very little away and Liam reaped the rewards, three injudicious shots and a misjudgement putting Lindow in a big hole. We know how it went from there but that start was absolutely sensational, from a Dids point of view, and was the key to the win.

It was an extraordinary game inasmuch as every single player did something that impacted the game significantly. Be it runs, wickets, taking a catch, or agile fielding, every one involved could take a bow. Although Steve G didn’t bowl, the seam options did us proud and all of us were particularly pleased for James to nail that final over as he did. The celebrations that followed and the afterglow that has stayed with many of us around during the week will not soon be forgotten, as neither will 2025.