Inspired by Josh Pinder and Mark Helsby's brilliant partnership, the Wanderer's bowlers eventually cut through the Metrovics esteemed batting for a memorable victory.

Metrovics are a good bunch of consistent, decent cricketers who this season have been unstoppable on the way to the title. Until this weekend.

Only positional pride and a 100% record were at stake, but it felt like a big fixture - how do you beat the unbeaten? So the skip did his due diligence and constructed a simple game plan based on the stats, talking to other skippers and Playcricket insights.

Win toss. Stick them in. Defend and restrict to under 180, knock them off with the best batting line available.

Of course, everyone has a plan until you lose the toss. Which we duly did, and were sent into bat. Arse.

No worries. New plan. Score 200, which they've only chased down once in the season. Defend. Bowl tight. Win game.

Despite a comfortable start, the Doc mistimed one early, before the assured looking Ben Sadler followed soon after. This brought the skip out to join Ankur, and they ship steadied a little.

Indeed, Ankur is really starting to settle into the opener role now, and looking well set for next season as the Wanderers vice captain. Indeed, some brutal hitting included a glorious straight six into a Flixton hedge.

But soon Ankur and the skip were also trudging back to the pavilion, leaving Josh starting to get comfy. Quick cameos by Naz and Matt were also undone by some tight Metrobowling, as we stuttered to an underpowered 76/6.

Not to worry, Mark Helsby can always be relied on to put some steel in the tail, and together he and Josh started to rebuild the innings. Josh, in particular, hitting some beautiful drives both sides of the wicket, whilst doing his best to murder Mark with some sharp running between the wickets in the hot September sunshine.

Gradually and patiently, we inched up towards our goal, with Mark scoring a brilliant 29, before another a couple of relatively quick wickets, left Josh teetering on the brink of his first Didsbury 50.

All it would need was for Ahmad to stick around whilst he did it. For those who don't known our lovable rogue Ahmad, let me be clear that he can bat. However, he finds it hard to resist the temptation of clearing the ropes. From ball one. Whatever the match situation.

But this was different. After a customary boundary or two, he ROTATED the strike. He played a DEFENSIVE shot with a STRAIGHT bat. The crowd was stunned.

And Josh edged towards a hugely deserved 50.... and with a couple of overs to go, he'd got to 49. And Josh had a plan to get the milestone.

'Okay Ahmad. I've got strike. We're both quick between the wickets and the fielders aren't. I'll just hit it and we'll run. Unless it's a direct it, I'm home. Okay?'.

Josh hit it and set off.... but sometimes plans just don't come together. As Ahmad seemed to forget what the plan was. Oops.

But Josh richly deserved his fifty, and did actually run the whole length of the pitch almost twice in trying to get it, so a far we're concerned.... congrats mate on a brilliant 50!

A total of 178 was good, but seemed about 15 or so short, knowing the power of the opposition.

With stern words ringing in his ears about bringing his best game, Ahmad duly bowled the best he has all season. Starting with 2 maidens and the wicket of their opener, he was scintillating. Fast, accurate and aggressive. His first spell was truly fearsome and fabulous - 6 ovs, 4 maidens, 1 wkt for 7. Well done mate - massive credit for that effort!

At the other end, Nazim's spin was simply unplayable at times and aided by a sharp catch by Mark, we soon had them under pressure at 34 for 4.

But then the reason that they were unbeaten slowly became obvious, as their mature middle order brought the pain. Slow, cautious and at times boring pain, but that discipline began to make our total look increasingly under par.

Jamie and Ankur had a go at forcing batting mistakes, but despite their tight and threatening lines, the Metrovics rolled slowly and inexorably onwards and upwards.

It's usually bad news when the Wanderers skipper brings himself onto bowl, as it signifies that he's a bit desperate and running out of ideas. And as his first, truly awful delivery sailed over the legside boundary for six, it wasn't exactly the start the Wanderers had hoped for.

But he got better. And with Ben Stoneman bringing some sharp seam up deliveries at the other end, the dots began to mount and the screw began to turn, and we duly got our reward - with their danger man nicking off to the skip and grabbed hungrily by Matt.

One brings two, of course.... and Matt pouched another edge the next over, as Ben got their other sticky batter with a snorter outside off. The same combo grabbed a second with a very smart legside catch again by Matt.

They were teetering, but we still needed to stay focused as the skip quickly bowled another, and a brilliant chase and pull back on the boundary by Naz was followed by a exocet of a throw by Ahmad, and Matt twisting to run out their number 9.

We'd broken their resistance, and duly finished them off in fine style to win by a surprisingly big margin of 49 runs.

49 runs. Exactly the same total, give or take a run, that Josh had got earlier. And despite worthy nominations for Naz's brilliant opening spell and Matt's outstanding work behind the stumps, our WOW was always going to be Josh for a match defining (near) 50.

Brilliant effort from one of the nicest and gentlest people you'll ever meet. Unless you are the non striker who forgets to run when he's on 49. Then the language is a little more fruity.

What a wonderful win to finish off the season, due to a brilliant, committed and professional performance by a fabulous bunch of players, who have been my absolute privilege to lead once again this season. Thanks to them all - and all of the others who've been part of the Wanderers journey this year. Its been a blast.

We finish the league in fourth. Our best placing ever.

Next year... with the depth and range of current and emerging talent at DCC.... It is time to be Champions. Bring it on.