Who would have though, that so many of the game's great would turn up for the match? The team sheet read like a copy of the Wisden, Boycott, Lara and Holding to name just three. Each hobber had to let the cruel hand of fate decide which of the legends they would be imitating for the match, each with their own "special task" to be performed during the game. With the legends decided, captain Lara aka Anth, was already imitating the great man by working to his own schedule and turning up when he was ready - Jo stepped in and lost the toss - HOBs All Stars would be batting.

The anticipation of seeing how Boycott, aka Tom Lambshead, would play in a 20twenty match was all too much - we are still none the wiser as he went for a diamond duck. Still with the names of Lara, Pieterson (Jo), Chanderpaul (Niko) to come there would be fireworks. Unfortunately Ventures failed to read the script and paid no respect to the All Stars, especially bowler Marks who claimed 4 wickets including a hat trick! The constant trickle of wickets limited the batting, with only 4 reaching double figures, top scorer Pieterson with 18. The bar was set at 99 to win.

Due to the disappointing batting performance the All Stars were dropped, a huge relief to Jon, as being Michael Holding he had to run in from the boundary every ball! The Hobbers were back to normal, although needing to pull a star studied performance out of the bag. Anth and Jon dually obliged with a tremendous spell of opening bowling, Jon picking up 2 wickets for 3 and Anth with 1 for 18. The damage was done. "Mopper" Adams came into the attack and put pay to any ambitions Ventures had of victory, finishing with man of the match figures of 4 for 20 (including taking his 100th wicket for HOBs - congratulations Stu!). Tight fielding from all the team, including all catches held and even two wickets from the last two balls for Hawksley. 76 all out was the final total in what has to be one of the finest fielding performances of the season (lucky the all stars were dropped!!).

Looking forward to what can only be described as the biggest cricket week the world will ever see - can HOBs claim back to back league titles, can Hawksley claim the club's first hat trick and then there is also the small matter of a game at the Oval - the Ashes decider (its nice to give the "smaller" teams a plug!!)