A hundred what? wickets, overs, minutes, people, beers, help someone explain, please!!! Only one man was rumored to hold the answer to these questions, but did he really know what was going on?

What was to follow would surely have pleased the 100 inventors and coconspirators at the ECB, sadly not so the cricket purists. Outwood’s trial of the ECB 100 was to commence albeit with a few rule tweaks conjured up by some random bloke.
So, it was to be an intra club match bringing 22 of Outwood’s finest cricketers to the Wood. There was a real buzz around the ground, spectators streaming in through the gates, the clubhouse kitted out in the grandest of regalia, balloons flying, hanging stars in the windows sparkling in the early evening sun, raffle prizes on display, music beating a steady rhythm, Ashley behind the bar already doing a brisk trade, with the 22 finest all assembled on time looking professional in whites ready to play this 100 Cricket thingy, could anything possibly go wrong?

Mike C’s team Meat the Cleavers v Andrew Crawford’s The Guv’nors

Players ready, rules explained again, toss done, Guv’nors to bat.
Still no one the wiser at what was going on.

The game commenced with two 5 ball overs followed by four 10 ball overs an absolute winner with the crowd, not actually so, the crowd baying at match referee Rigby for an explanation to the rules.

Meanwhile the havoc off the pitch had spread out to the square, wickets tumbling faster than Ash could pour the beer, the scorebook showing a masterclass in bowling from the Evans family, snaffling between them the scalps of the top 4 Guv’nors wickets, Lucas (3) and Zach (1).

This could all be over rather quickly, a game devised to be played at a rate of knots over in a flash, not quite what the organiser’s wanted. Fortunately skipper Crawford had others ideas smashing a superb 31 from 7 scoring shots including 4 sixes and along with Initially Marcus (24) then support from Harry (11) and at the end a not out Talbot on 5.
Guv’nors finishing on 130/9 from their 100 balls. Was this to be enough? Still nobody had any idea. This just adding to the mystery and beguiling excitement of the evening.

Time for Meat the Cleavers to chase.

Well chase they did, B. Cleaver and D. Tunstall going about their work in fine fashion showing no signs of pressure that was heaped on them from the now huge crowd chanting and shouting mostly words of support, almost as raucous as the noise coming from a good day in the Hollies stand Edgbaston. The bowling of Mat Talbot, Mr Nat Hiscock and Mr Marcus Malley coming and going without effect. How could the Guv’nors stem the tidal wave of runs?
Now skipper Crawford must have sensed something in his waters, his next move was genius, well maybe not total genius, it was the rules that dictated such a move but let’s stick with genius for now. His move bringing into the attack the whiley but lesser bowled Mr P Howard and the unorthodox Mr D Nelson, this a game changing ploy, a move that no one would suspect could, but did turn the game back in favour of the Guv’nors.
Havoc once again prevailed, wickets falling for not many runs, 2 apiece for Howard and Nelson.
It was Stockley and Skipper Cleaver steadying the ship but using up valuable deliveries in the process. With the demise of the skipper and balls running out, the game came alive. The crowd in the Hollies stand now truly warmed up after a few lubricating ales were as much in the game as the players, everyone working out and counting down runs needed against balls left, no one understanding the 10 ball overs.

With talk now of a super over, reminiscent of a recent world cup final, could this be on the cards?
Skipper Crawford to deliver the final 10 ball over, 17 needed from the bat for victory, the first ball a WICKET Stockley had to depart for 16. Was it the heady height of taking the wicket that did for the skipper? His next ball a wide, 4 runs to the total. 13 now needed from 8, dot ball, 13 from 7, new man at the crease Max Evans smashing the ball for 6, seven required from 6, a single from the next ball, 6 from 5, a dot ball followed 6 from 4 required. WICKET Evans run out for no run. 6 from 3 the target, Mr Ian Harling a Guest player over from Hong Kong to face the next ball a man known for his bowling prowess rather than batting ability, huge pressure on the man from Hong Kong, with the destructive Mr Hookway at the non-strikers could he find the single needed to bring Hookway to the fore? Yeeessssss a single to Harling, 5 required from the final delivery, 4 needed to activate the super over. Skipper Crawford bowling to Hookway, the final delivery to decide proceedings, BOOM a huge six, the ball clattering into the pavilion roof showering the spectators in pieces of tile.

Victory to Meat the Cleavers

What a game
Will we do it again? I expect so
Will there be a better understanding of the rules? I expect not!!
Until that time

RIGGERS