Two midweek T20 matches with mixed fortunes for the senior teams, the 2s progressing through to the quarter finals with the possibility of taking on the 2As (if they can beat Heaton Mersey 2s next Tues, 6.00pm start at Dids), whereas the 1s bowed out at the quarter final stage of their competition after one of the most spectacular and sustained batting onslaughts many present could recall ever seeing, courtesy of Hyde’s Andrew Jackson, of which more anon.

The 2s had a Round 3 T20 encounter Stockport Georgians on Tues, tricky opponents who had brilliantly knocked off 208 to beat Hyde in the previous round. Rain just after the toss meant it was a 17-overs-a side game, and when the 2s found themselves 28-3 in the reduced powerplay (they only found the boundary 3 times in those first 5 overs) SG were well on top. However, for reasons I still cannot fathom, SG then did as so many sides seem to do – when the powerplay is done, they pushed men back by default, not appreciating the pressure that had been brought to bear by a tight infield, and Dids, through the know-how of Stuart Stoneman and the increasing maturity of Dan Ward, at first stabilised and then kicked on, adding 69 in 7 overs as the easier singles got them both going. Stuart continued his great run of form with a 30-ball half century, and although it needed Rohan to hit two fours off the last two balls of the innings to get past 130, overall the 2s were not dissatisfied with that, albeit that they were grateful for the 23 wides SG bowled.

SG set off at a rate of knots, 14 off the first boding ominously for Dids, but Neil Pennington, having found the boundary 3 times in that opening over, perhaps got a bit carried away and miscued a swirler which Sam did well to hold. That was number one of four wkts for Matt Laker, who bowled really well, dismissing the more than capable top four in an excellent spell which punctured SG’s belief. We had the spectacle of a runner being used – the injured striker should have been run out first ball (see video for my manic implorings of the side to do just that!) but the lads afterwards assured me they considered it unsporting to do so. And if that is so, good on them. In the event it made little difference to the outcome which was becoming more inevitable with every dot ball, of which there were plenty, and in the end victory was comfortably achieved, although it was not easy for either side as the gloom deepened and sighting the ball became more difficult.

By contrast the 1s had a lovely sunny evening for their clash with Hyde, the top two in the Prem attracting a decent crowd who were to be treated to some quite breathtaking batting. It was Nick – yet again – who got things going, hitting Andrew Jackson for 6-4-6 (no mean feat in itself) as Dids were past 50 in the 4th over. Shortly after he hit another 20 off 4 balls, passing a sublime 50 off just 23 as the scoreboard continued to go round like a petrol pump display, some great shots seeing 100 on the board in 8.5 overs as Dids were looking good for something massive. But in the 10th over, Nick aimed for the long midwicket boundary and just fell short, very well caught as a delighted Hyde team regrouped, to very good effect as it turned out, as Dids had to scramble to see 82 more added off the last 10 and a target of 187 set. It seemed to me to be some 25 light – as it turned out, that was a conservative figure!

There are times in cricket when you simply have to hold your hands up and say ‘wow!’ and after the barrage of shots unleashed by Andrew Jackson, that’s really all that can be said. However you slice the stats, they are amazing – seven 6s and two 4s in a 17-ball 50 (he went to 54 with that seventh 6, in case you are wondering); 17 balls after that Jackson was 101 not out, having hit a further five maximums and three 4s; Jackson and Luke Young added 101 off 7.3 overs for the 3rd wkt, of which Young’s share – he being the second highest run scorer in the Prem at present – was 19. Jackson batted nine mins shy of an hour, in which time 172 runs were added to the Hyde total in 13.3 overs. As for the actual sixes themselves – three of them just made it over the rope, but the majority went sailing into the nearby gardens, the one he slog-swept over Wilmslow Rd probably the most spectacular of all, the roars from the large Hyde contingent perhaps egging Jackson on as the ball kept disappearing.

From a Dids perspective, it was a tough one. Jackson did offer one difficult and one more straightforward chance (when 54) and it was frustrating that neither could be taken. Would it have made a difference? It’s impossible to know for sure but, despite the depth of the Hyde batting, it is a fair bet that none of their players could have hit as big as consistently…but that’s just conjecture. The fact remains that Hyde were swept into finals day by an absolutely fabulous display of T20 batting, and there is no shame in losing out to that. All Dids could do was take it on the chin, and the guys were magnanimous in defeat, but obviously disappointed too, having now exited all the cup competitions. It’s a measure of how far the 1s have come that their self-belief and expectation is as high as it is – they backed themselves tonight, but sadly it wasn’t to be.

As a footnote, Hyde captain Danny Cranmer and veteran Dave Fitzsimmons both played in the T20 semi-final in 2017 when they lost a quite incredible match – hopefully this link works, take a look and see what I mean….

https://cheshirecountycl.play-cricket.com/website/results/3183082

…so for two fine players and ambassadors for their club, perhaps to be on the right end of the result tonight was a cricketing ‘reward’ for them. That year was also the last time Dids got to finals day to date, where again they punched above their weight, as they have done for the past two years now, and I personally think that’s really something. I for one remain immensely proud to have an association with them - that they compete as they do on a far from even playing field at the top end of the Prem is brilliant, and although they were outgunned tonight, this team can only be better for the experience.

There’s a lot of cricket left to be played and the club as a whole as stacks to look forward to; most of our senior sides at the right end of their divisions, cup final days for the 2s and 3s ahead (and possibly the 2As), let alone the terrific progress of the womens and juniors sections, and another successful hosting of the county side under our belt. Let’s keep our heads up, enjoy the game and be really thankful to be part of such a fantastic club.