With no sign of the rapture, it fell to the Badger deities of Warman and Barker to bring joy to the masses.
3 wickets for Barker and a half-century for Warman were the defining moments of a comfortable win for the Battersea Badgers – their third in as many weeks.
Playing on a decent track, frugality and frustration were the watchwords for the Badger opening bowlers. With every run at a premium, the Weasel batsmen played and missed but stubbornly refused to provide the edge craved by the fielders.
Gasps of frustration were provided by a triumvirate of gullies, but it was not until the introduction of Barker in the 17th over that the deadlock was finally broken, the stumps rearranged by his very first delivery.
The Weasel batsmen kept plugging away but runs remained hard to come by and they closed their innings on 145/7.
Captain-for-the-day Foord demanded focus from his top order and it was provided by Marchant, offering both his customary solid batting display and his customary annoyed reaction to an LBW decision.
Described by his wife as ‘A very silly boy’ for even playing in the match, Warman had been hobbling along at the other end, gently accumulating. A no-nonsense approach of hitting bad balls and declining quick singles served him well as he notched his first half-century of the season.
Eyebrows were raised on the boundary as further batting partners came and went. Yet with Warman merrily stir-frying shots in his innings wok, this proved of no consequence and the Badgers found their way home with four batsmen still uncalled for.
50th game in Badger history. Victory. Birthday beers for Cloke. The world didn’t end.
Good enough.