Not a huge amount of cricket played for our sides as the season rushes towards its conclusion, but what we did see was of great significance as, once again, Didsbury people had much to be pleased about. All the mens Sunday cricket was washed out, including an intriguingly poised Cheshire Cup Final, but the womens 1s and 3s played, about which more anon.

It wasn’t all good news though, with the 2s suffering a surprise loss at Cheadle which makes their last two games considerably more pressurised. And as one of those two matches is against third place Oxton, even more so. Ryan held his hands up, paying tribute to Cheadle’s James Clift who made 107* in his side’s 8 wkt win. A bad day at the office? “Yes, can’t really explain it – they had a good side out, bowled with real discipline, batted well, we paid the price for not being fully on it I’m afraid.” Chester won of course, so the 2s lead at the top is down to four pts – still in their hands but no room for error now, you feel.

A different story for the 2As though, with an effusive Rehmani buoyant after a seventh win in nine had his charges passing round the altitude sickness pills, the 2As now in third place! What a remarkable turnaround after being stuck in the bottom two for the first half of the season. “Yes yes yes, what a club is DCC is and what a team of 2As which I can’t be more proud of. A complete turnaround in the second stage of the season and going upto third in the division is a great achievement for team and for club. On Saturday a team with half juniors and half regular players showed a great team performance on a wicket which was supporting bowlers all day. We struggled batting first after losing the toss to Grappenhall but OG Snr, Kush, Nikash, and especially Haris helped us upto 147 which seems to be par on such a wicket. We took a wicket in first over and second wicket at 36, but one of their batsman started to smash it all over. Then a bowling change brought two wickets for Nikash, 65-4."

"And there comes many many years and many many overs of experience, DCC stalwart ‘Bells’ Bellamy who produced a majestical 6.3-2-17-6 and we won the game comfortably. Glad to see all juniors being involved and determined to make their impact on Saturday cricket. As I have said before, DCC future is bright.”

And so to the 1s. Saturday saw them rack up the highest Prem total of the season, 347-8 (the fifth time this season they have passed 300) as the Timperley fielders dived for cover under an onslaught of the oft-heralded ‘bombs’ the guys are so accomplished at hitting. 15 sixes and 28 fours underlined the gulf between the sides on the day, 137 coming off the last 10 as Nick led the way with a 41-ball 91, 6 sixes in 10 balls faced at one point a particular highlight. James Green hugely enjoyed his 7-ball cameo (he made 25) while Will picked up where he left off at Elworth, 2 of each boundary type in his 29* off 16. It was a predictably easy win – as Nick said later, that type of game underlines the downside of win-lose cricket as a spectacle – but it was nonetheless another valuable 20 pts which keeps things alive – just - at the top of the table, and a stylish way to sign off on our home fixtures for another year, as two away days conclude the league season. Alderley followed by Nantwich!

They won’t be the last cricket for the 1s, though, as they have a Cheshire Cup Final to replay, Sunday’s match at Hyde abandoned as the drizzly gloaming settled atop Werneth Low and created a scene more suitable for a remake of ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ than cup cricket.

It was a real shame too, firstly as the decent showing of Dids people had been treated to an exhibition even more impressive than the day before, Nick playing the epitome of a captain’s innings in the most magnificent fashion. And secondly, although the match will be officially ‘stricken’ from the record, it featured statistical subtleties that only people like me can truly enjoy. Well, that and the ball being most unsubtly howitzered to the farthest corners of the parish in exhilarating fashion. So I shall describe the day as far as it went, with the picture a snap of my scoresheet to illustrate in more detail the fantastic acceleration (just look at Nick’s surname, then follow all the singles, down to the ‘egg’splosion of run scoring as the right hand column summarises the over by over advance of scores).

Hyde, having worked hard to get things as fit as possible, were understandably delighted at winning the toss, said ‘bowl’ as soon as the coin landed, and with conditions damp, dank, somewhat occluded, and one of the best attacks in the league keen and eager to get going, it was about as tough a test as you could get.

A steady opening stand of 37, and some promising stuff from Joe Cooke at 3 helped settle nerves, but players kept getting in and out without anything substantive. Nick could only stand and watch, biding his time as he proceeded entirely in singles (one of which turned into a double courtesy of an overthrow). I doubt if Nick has ever scored 18 off 40 balls with no boundaries – certainly not in my time at Dids - but that was the fact of the scoresheet after the General played on, Dids 133-8 after 32.

Nick called for a drink and, as Tom Bidders (12th man) later revealed, the skip took a hefty swig of water, smiled and quietly said “time to go, I think.” Danny Cranmer whistled up opening bowler Andrew Jackson (one of 16 Hyde bowling changes, by the way) who bustled in menacingly, but plaintively watched his first delivery sail way back over his head into the overflow car park. Wow. A similar hit followed three balls later, 15 off the over, and Nick had found his range. The six he hammered over midwicket to reach 50 was absolutely huge and received rapturous acclaim; another four booming maximums followed as Will happily played the OG role from the week previous, making 2 as 50 were added for the 8th. Jonty made an equally brilliant two as he helped Nick add 24 off the final 11 balls, Nick 85* off 80 as Dids finished with a more than respectable 207-9.

There was almost a run out off the first ball of the Hyde reply, to add to the excitement. Luke Young then inside-edged one just past his leg stump as the drizzle got steadier and heavier, before the beamer that slipped from the General’s hand and was thumped for six persuaded the umpires that conditions were no longer fit. And despite a great effort from the Hyde players and groundstaff, there was just no chance of getting back on. So we are to try again, Sat 21st September, with player availability at this stage uncertain.

Whatever happens, well done 1s. Another very impressive season, underlining our credentials as one of the top sides, and best clubs, in the county. It’s a privilege to be part of it all.

That’s not the only big prize up for grabs, though, as Rosh’s women have a chance to land the Div 1 title next Sunday when they face the team above them (who have led the league all season), Leigh. On Sunday the women marmalised Appleton, 70 from Emily Wilkins and yet another half-century from Kashmira leading the way as Rosh called a halt at 219-5 in the 36th, wisely getting ahead of any potential rain disruption. Appleton only lasted 18 overs, hobbling to 66, Hannah Marshall following up a bright 30 with 2-6 as attention turned to that biggest of games next Sunday. In their first meeting this season, back in May, the women will need no reminding that Leigh racked up 257-3 en-route to a 74-run win, so there can be no greater challenge. Stockport Trinity is the venue next Sunday with a 12.30 start scheduled.

Finally a word about Katya’s 3s who finished an encouraging first season in Div 4 East with a third place finish. Their final game, against Stockport, ended with a cruel last ball loss, but nonetheless a very exciting game in what has been a season greatly enjoyed by all those involved. There is plenty to build on in 2025.

Thanks as ever for reading, final one from me next week, hopefully with plenty of end-of-season cheer.