High in the Townfield Lane hills, PDA"The Duke" Clark, and his posse of third team renegades moseyed on over to the Oxton back pitch to do battle with John " Doc Holliday" Mitchell's gang of sharp shooters. As the Duke got off his hoss' he strode out to the middle under the blazing high noon sun, well twelve thirty to be precise, and called. It was first blood to the Duke who asked the Doc to make his day and bat first!

With a new cherry it was the tried and tested pair of the Duke and the smiling assassin Vijay to test the mettle of the Oxton team. It was not long before Vijay soon had the batsmen hopping around in bewilderment as his swerving deliveries tore a hole in the top order. Ably backed up by the Duke and some excellent fielding Oxton were soon staring down the barrel at 47 for 5. The Evertonians were even dreaming of catching the late match. But their hopes were dashed as the sixth wicket pair of Price and Alleyne had other thoughts as they took cover and rescued the innings with a fine partnership that took them to over 150. The stand included some sublime shots from both players but especially Alleyne who really showed his class. However in his struggle he injured his heel and batting on one leg he succumbed to Mohammed who had him caught by Alex "The Kid" Woods for 57. At 160 for 6 the Upton posse rode in for the kill with Mohammed just failing to take a hat trick. Price was finally brought down for an swashbuckling 73. The pressure was on Oxton and the game was finally up for them in the 49th over for 214. A six wicket haul for Vijay and three for Mohammed with some fine back up bowling from Zee, the Duke and Dead Eyed Scraggy( as promised John I won't mention the really big six Alleyne hit into the tennis courts off you). The fielding was excellent and four catches were held, although I am still not sure why my team expressed sympathy and amazement to the Oxton batsman caught by your own sharpshooter!

So with 51 overs to get 215 on a small pitch it was the two experienced run slingers of Shents and myself sent out to clean the bowling up! Shents got into his stride quickly with a couple of sharp fours. Tragedy then struck your correspondent as i was fatally winged trying to get off the mark. Lord Charles was next up and after a confident start missed a straight one for 11. This meant the artillery was called up in the rotund shape of Big Nige. Alas Shents then fell for 18 and was quickly followed by Big Nige for 15. At 50 for 4 and the so called batsmen moping back at the ranch it was left to" the Duke" and "the Kid" to try and shoot their way out of the mess. To their great credit they set about the target with a mixture of caution and selected attacking shots as they clawed their way back into the battle. The tide was turning with every ball but on 131 "The Kid" drove once too often and holed out for an excellent 44. It won't be long before he gets that maiden.... half century that is! Mohammed then entered the fray but his luck was out as he holed out to an excellent catch in the deep. Zee came in and showed his attacking intentions with a massive six only to be gunned down shortly after. Worse was to follow when the Duke having made an excellent 53 went down guns a blazing. So with 12 overs left and another 40 needed it was down to the final pair to repel the marauding Oxton team who could now smell the scent of blood, or 25 points! But the Oxton gang had wounded hero, (he pulled something in his leg), Ian"Iron Hands"Bruce and Dead Eyed Scraggy to contend with. Between them they have many more years experience than they care to remember and with all thoughts of a victory as far away as a decent Liverpool performance they set about defending the honour of the Upton posse as the Oxton boys hollered and appealed away after that final elusive wicket. It was reminiscent of the Alamo as they strived in vain to breach the rock solid( note. This is called literary licence) defence of our embattled heroes. But, oh heck, as they say in Oxton, Iron Hands,10 no, and Dead Eye, 1 no, held on as the 51st rode over the horizon and a draw was had with Upton scoring 181 for 9.

So as the sun set in west over the Noccy and the smell of cordite and blood, well Ralgex for those of a certain age, floated over the back pitch as the teams headed to the saloon for some whisky, song and wild women. OK in reality a nice chat and a couple of jugs of ale!

For some of us it was our first taste of cricket for three weeks and what a good game it was with twists and turns all the way. Played in the usual excellent spirit that you would expect hopefully we will return next season to do battle again!