For the second weekend in succession, the Ramblas snatch an improbable victory in a nail-biter of a game, in an all-time classic against first-time opposition West Wickham.

In what masqueraded as summer conditions, the Ramblas’ captain Matt Rudgyard won the toss (AGAIN…), yet inexplicably chose to bat (AGAIN). Still, after the previous week’s unlikely win over Hildenborough, maybe there was method to his madness…

… alas, at an eye-watering 37/8 it definitely felt more like madness than method, though.

Despite a steady enough opening start from the Loughlin twins, the dismissal of Jon Loughlin precipitated a Ramblas collapse for the ages, with more ducks than the local fairground/pond/Chinese* (*delete as to your own preference…).

With Geoff Parrett striding out and the situation perilous to say the least, hopes were about as high as Warwick Davis’s hat rack. But, the man with the Ramblas’ (joint) fastest century has been known to put on some fireworks, so while thoughts were turning to an early tea and back home for Antiques Roadshow, there was that classic glimmer of hope, a mere sniff of a chance that all sports fans have that all might not be lost just yet.

The visitors had started to sniff blood and drawn the field in, but Parrett was in swashbuckling mood, peppering the boundary at every opportunity to reach a fine half century, ably supported by Michael Cooper (14) and then Chris Thomas as the hosts scratched their way to 130 all out.

Despite having somehow defended 168 the previous week, the hosts knew this was a different proposition altogether and they’d have to be sharp in the field to have any chance of snatching an unlikely victory from the jaws of defeat.

Thomas and Koby Radburn kicked things off and kept things nice and tight, the former snaffling two wickets courtesy of catches from Tom Howgego (with an absolute corker of a catch from one that swirled in the air for an age) and Cooper (who expertly pouched a more regulation take at mid-on). However, those breakthroughs were merely the equivalent of tapping on the door with a breadstick, when a battering ram is required – there was still a long way to go.

Cooper replaced K. Radburn and a steady first couple of overs were slightly spoiled by a third that saw the visitors get ahead of the run rate, while Parrett came on for Thomas and was in fine fettle with ball in hand, before eliciting a run out off his own bowling. While it will generously go down in the annals as a Parrett run out, Neil Radburn did brilliantly to take the ball and break the stumps following a slightly errant throw from the bowler.

At drinks, West Wickham were still very much in control, but were being kept honest by some fine work in the field across the board, as the Ramblas put bodies on the line and made their visitors fight for every run. That approach went out of the window somewhat with a loose over from Thomas, but it facilitated a change of ends for Parrett who soon made sure the day was all about him.

First, seeing an effort edged behind to ‘keeper, before a nonchalant catch off his own bowling was followed by a stumping and a further feather behind to N. Radburn and suddenly the nerves were beginning to jangle for the visitors and the hosts’ collective pecker was up. It really was a spell of the highest order, with barely an out ball for the batters to ease the pressure, as he followed up his 55 not out with figures of 4/19 from his seven overs. Bravo, Geoffo!

Meanwhile, Cameron Hancock was on at the Tennis Courts End and continued his fine form from his debut last week with a strong spell that kept batters honest and was unlucky to go unrewarded, with Cooper returning to the attack in place of Parrett. Having seen his previous over get some tap, it was no mean feat for Cooper to come back and bowl smartly, capturing two wickets thanks to edges behind to the ‘keeper who was earning his corn back there.

With two overs to go, the pick of his attack bowled out and only four runs to defend, Rudgyard was left with the tricky proposition of who to bowl. Thankfully, the ace up the sleeve Mark Loughlin was on hand to take the glory in the penultimate over, caught at short third man by Hancock as the visitors fell agonisingly short by three runs.

It was a real bum-clencher of a game (nothing to do with the excellent tea…), as the Ramblas scrambled to something at least vaguely defendable, with West Wickham having bowled and fielded brilliantly. In the second half of the game, it really was the Ramblas’ collective desire with ball and in the field that ensured the game went into its last knockings and ultimately got them over the line. Hopefully we’ll have a chance of a rematch very soon.

Ramblas MVP: A stunning all-round showing from Michael Cooper must be acknowledged, with a key late-innings partnership backed up by two important wickets, a catch and putting his body on the line in the field. And the work behind the stumps of Neil Radburn was also top-notch. However, for a truly vital half century, a run out, a catch and four wickets in a spell-binding seven overs (and the corned beef sarnies to boot), this week it can only be Geoff Parrett.