On a pleasant, but chilly, night at the YMCA in Golden Hill HOBs engaged in a titanic Construction League battle against their erstwhile landlords, YMCA CC. HOBs were determined to avenge last years result in this fixture, this being the only league game lost during the Championship season. Sadly, the cricketing gods yet again refused to smile on them in this match as an extremely competitive, and closely fought, game was ultimately lost by 4 wickets off the penultimate ball of the match.

Captain SJ Pandya Smith lost the toss and YMCA elected to field, a sure sign that they were taking the HOBs threat extremely seriously. The Serjeant brothers opened together for the first time in HOBs colours. Much pavilion banter centered on an appropriate nickname for this partnership, sadly most of it is unrepeatable on a family website. The Serjeant's made steady progress for the first few overs, advancing the score to 22-0 before P.Serjeant (12) was caught attempting an expansive cut shot over backward point off Fining. Unfortunately this precipitated a traditional HOBs batting collapse, as J Colley (YMCA 1st team captain) clearly riled by HOBs excellent start 'found another gear' taking 3 wickets for 10 including the vital snares of M Serjeant (8), A Barry (0) and captain SJ Pandya Smith (1). Having built a decent platform HOBs were suddenly 4 wickets down without having reached 30, a competitive target looked a long way off.

After this set back, JS Smith (playing the innings of the match for HOBs) and T Loughran were forced to enter a period of consolidation. Either that, or they just couldn't hit the thing off the square. While no further wickets fell, HOBs found themselves well behind a competitive run rate and had not reached 40 by the time 10 overs had been used up. Loughran (9) then played a typically hideous shot to get bowled by a straight one, bringing W Thomas to the crease. He set about the YMCA attack in typical Bothamesque manner. Thomas's quick fire 14 upped the run rate and for the first time it looked as though HOBs could achieve the proverbial 'something to bowl at'. Meanwhile at the other end JS Smith continued to anchor the innings expertly and, with the demise of Thomas, took on primary scoring responsibilities during the closing overs. He found crucial late order support from Fillingham (9), Adams (15 not out) and Ashford (2) who all scrambled vital runs before JS Smith made one risky call too many and was run out for an innings defining 28. As time ran down on the HOBs Adams clipped YMCA's death bowlers expertly through midwicket for 2 boundaries as the, psychologically crucial, barrier of 3 figures was reached. The innings concluded with another glorious drive for 4 from Adams to give HOBs a final score of 110-9. This was generally considered to represent a 'good effort' and 'not bad considering where we were at 10 overs', it was certainly enough for the last pair, Adams and A Barrett (1 Not Out), to return to the pavilion with a deserved spring in their step.

After a quick 10 minute break for the swigging of isotonic beverages and a reflective fag, HOBs took to the field in an attempt to defend their score. The mood among the players was one of quiet confidence with the feeling that the momentum was with them. However, Butler, opening the batting for YMCA had other ideas. Taking to the bowling in a manner reminiscent of the 'Great Don' he got YMCA off to a thunderous start in the first 10 overs. Only Man of the match, JS Smith, was able to contain him, his superb opening spell (4 Overs, 1 Maiden, 9 runs and 1 Wicket) keeping HOBs in the hunt. The HOBs bowlers did though, manage to contain the batsman at the opposite end to Butler with A Barrett, W Thomas and T Loughran not allowing the other YMCA batsman to get comfortable. But, Butler marched rampantly on before being retired once he reached 50 (with Loughran cunningly allowing him to get there more quickly by serving up a succession of 'pies' to be crushed out of the ground).

This show of over confidence by YMCA (retiring a player in a league game) roused the HOBs to renewed efforts in pursuit of victory. Tight bowling in the middle overs and some pressure building fielding forced poor shot selections by YMCA batsmen Smith and M Parker leading to their demise. The required rate was increasing over on over forcing YMCA to take more risks in their running between the wickets. 2 superb Run Outs were effected by A Barry and captain SJ Pandya Smith both the captain himself and S Adams tightened the screws with some well executed death bowling. It looked as though the tide had turned HOBs way and with 2 overs remaining YMCA required more than 10 an over to win.

Sadly it was not to be, as J Colley put on an excellent display of straight hitting off Thomas in the penultimate over to bring the target down to just 4 runs off the last 6 balls which were to be bowled by captain SJ Pandya Smith. However, Colley was off strike and HOBs crowded round his partner Dowle in an attempt to restrict the single. After a couple of runs were scrambled down to 3rd man and a crucial dot ball had been recorded, Pandya Smith suckered Dowle into playing across the line, the ball was popped straight up in the air there was a sharp intake of breath from players and spectators before the ball safely nestled in the relieved captain's hands. Unfortunately the batsman were able to cross, bringing the dangerous Colley back on strike with 2 needed from 3 balls. The scene was set, captain v captain, 2 cricketing titans facing each other with the match on the line, an ending could not have been better scripted. Pandya Smith, thanks to an excellent stop in the covers, bowled a crucial dot ball now the equation was down to 2 runs off 2 balls. A hush desended as Pandya Smith ran in to bowl, it was a decent ball pitched up on middle stump but Colley bought his bat down and just managed to muscle over the despairing bowler outstretched hand and deep enough into the outfield to complete the required 2 runs. A cheer of relief went up from the YMCA team as the winning run was completed. HOBs returned to the pavilion, and a well earned pint, defeated in the match but not in spirit having come close to winning a pulsating game. Revenge would have to wait for next year….