Mitcham Mavericks 211-6 dec lost to Headley 212-8 (Smith 47, Midmer 36*)
 
Headley Heath witnessed another thriller on Sunday as the home side won with a boundary off the last ball of the innings. Having faced a stern target at a rate of around 7 an over in the second half of their innings this was a decent effort from Headley against a strong Mitcham Mavericks outfit and maintains their unbeaten run going into next Sundays clash with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves.
 
Heavy overnight rain had left the pitch as a sticky pudding, but the Mavericks captain fancied a bat and Headley skipper James Midmer was in no mood to argue. Headley fielded. Despite favourable conditions, Headley did not take advantage and there was only a sole wicket for Grant Waller as Mitcham waltzed to 70-1 thanks to a decent knock from their No.3 bat. Having had a few let offs, the No.3 eventually departed after a low catch from James Midmer handed new boy Daniel Church a first Headley wicket. This strike was followed quickly by a debut wicket for Gary Mason, whose sharp seam bowling eventually produced the edge it had deserved for a long time. At 75-3 the game was evenly poised, but with Waller and Mason bowled to a standstill, new options were required and the ball was tossed to Andy Pickering and George Tyson. Both men have bowled well in recent weeks but this time their luck was out as the Mavericks finally decided to press the accelerator button, with some strong cover drives and good running enabling them to reach 160-3 at the 35 over mark. With their skipper motoring past 50, Mitcham were looking good, but Headley were kept in the game by another debutant Rob Smith, whose well flighted and accurate off breaks proved a surprise to everyone, most of all the skipper, who despite long sporting ties had never seen them before. Smith picked up 2-fer and Grant Waller returned to remove the oppo skipper just as he was getting going. A few late hits and the Mavericks declared at 211-6 after 44 overs.
 
Tea proved to be a hit. Mark Hopper had been drafted in late but provided a cultured array of sandwiches which included Roy Keane's favourite prawn mayo. The chocolate cake was also a favourite and would probably be added to the ideal tea of the season so far along with Wallers "delicately spiced" tuna sandwiches and Phil Chapman's pizza. 
 
After tea, Headley's chase started poorly, as after a few breezy shots, George Tyson was sent packing by a decent yorker. The Mavericks field would not have looked out of place had Curtly Ambrose been bowling, but in fact the opening bowlers became more and more generous and Mark Hopper and Mitch Pickering were soon tucking in and the sun was shining on Headley. Even Phil Chapman had escaped his garden and turned up to watch, before swiftly running off to move his car from Pickering Jr's line of fire. Chapman's golf partner Hopper looked in decent touch and soon crashed a superb pull shot over the pavilion, whilst Pickering M avoided the cars and in fact began unveiling his smashing cover drive on occasion, to the general delight of his extended family in the Pavilion. Things were looking good, but as with last week, the introduction of an off spinner exposed an achilles heel as three fell in quick succession and the mood changed. First, Hopper aimed a swipe at the very first ball and gloved it behind, Taran Bassi was then bowled, and when Pickering poked a full toss straight to midwicket, the momentum was back with the Mavericks at 70-4. Headley were rescued by a long and productive partnership between two of the debutants, Gary Mason batting at No.5 and Rob Smith at No.6. The two batted in contrasting but complementary styles, Mason grittily and effectively accumulating whilst Smith elegantly stroked the ball around the Heath to the manor born. Headley gradually wrested back control, and Mason had just spanked one over the pavilion to bring the score past 140, when disaster struck and he was stumped off Mitchams left arm chinaman bowler. Smith continued to look composed, but at the other end first Waller, and then Andy Pickering fell in quick succession leaving skipper James Midmer to partner Smith in the final run in. Now faced with 8 an over, Smith and Midmer rolled back the years with a clinical partnership to keep up the rate, with Smith stroking an array of classy shots through the off side. With just over three overs to go Smith tried to launch the Chinaman over the top but was caught on the long off boundary. Controversy ensued as Midmer and new man Dan Church initially took a more circumspect view to the 12 an over required, but after the Mitcham skipper had voiced his opinions and brought the field up, Headley launched a thrilling counterattack, as Midmer thumped a succession of boundaries and the field receded further and further. With four needed off the last ball and every fielder back on the rope, Midmer reverse swept Mitchams off spinner for four down to a vacant third man boundary to record an unlikey win.
 
Rumours began to fly around at tea that the big hitting batsman James Moss would soon be available for the first time this season have begun to surface around the club. An inside source was heard to say "James is busy getting smashed after his finals at the moment, but I've cut off his funds so he will have to be back soon".
 
Phil Chapmans return is less certain as his garden continues to require attention...