Well another fine Monday evening down at the Clough - well except it was a Tuesday and we were in deepest, darkest Denton.
Heaven knows what Denton East looks like.
We managed to avoid dropping into the Windmill pub, which makes the Pineapple look like The Ivy, and found the ground in good time.

After a very professional warm up-by Denton not us, the parents started guessing which opening partnership would come out of the changing rooms this week. When nobody guessed Pid and Alastair we decided we definitely weren't losing a tenner to Josh's last man standing competition.

The usually reliable Play Cricket app notes our first wicket to fall was Isaac on 15-1. This means that Alastair somehow flew under the radar. (Something that could definitely not be said when he is fielding with his screams of "Come on Shaw").

Isaac was the first of three consecutive run outs. Our yes-no-maybe-go on-hold on-oh crap calling technique was reminiscent of a Chuckle Brothers (RIP Barry) "To me-To you" sketch. Although one run out decision in front of the bulk of the Shaw parents was even more comical than that.

Thankfully Jack and Noah built a small partnership hitting seven boundaries between them. Theo came in and hit the biggest six of our innings which, much to the dismay of his Dad, nearly wiped out a full table of drinks. He claimed he fainted at the sight of his son hitting a six but the fact that he clutched his wallet on the way down tells a different story.
Grace and Rossi also managed a boundary each to get our total to 79 which gave our bowlers hope of defending it.

Unfortunately despite some great lines from the opening pace duo of Archer and Wood....sorry Euan and Grace, the Denton captain really got after them. This was despite Jack running out their co-captain for a (Kaven informs me, blame him if this is incorrect) titanium duck. Which put pressure on their batsman from the outset and made them realise that they might not be having everything their own way. In the fifth over the Denton captain smashed a marginally bigger six than Theo's into the garden of the "Real Housewives of Denton" founder and only member. Did anyone else see that hot tub and fire-pit? He sadly then unfortunately had to retire - :)

It was at this point Coach Craig and Skip Isaac decided to unleash the Under 15's very own spin twins. For those not familiar with this beautiful game they don't actually have to look like each other, essentially they just both bowl spin at opposite ends during consecutive overs. Jack and Lucas suddenly made the 15s believe during eight overs where they really turned (pun intended) the screw and left Denton on 75-8. Lucas had figures of 2-16 but Jack eclipsed him with 4-11. *(2 catches for Noah off consecutive balls and then one for Theo in Jack's next over)

Four wickets in three overs (source: Paul M) meant that we needed one wicket, and they needed five runs but crucially the spinners were bowled out. Who could bowl the next over? Up steps Little Miss Dependable (one of the more popular Roger Hargreaves series) who only needed three balls to take the last wicket and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat (I was always using that one Paul, your not having credit for it) and send the Shaw team into delirium.

There could only be one player of the match (sponsored this week by the Windmill pub, Denton which does a lovely Falafel and Quinoa Salad) with 23 runs, four wickets and a run out was Jack Harrop.

Notable mentions go to Alastair, Isaac, Euan, Noah, Theo, Grace, Kaven, Lucas, Rossi and George who refused to give in when nobody would have blamed them if they had.

Some outstanding pressure in the field meant that the straight forward Denton victory never materialised.

Well done everyone and as ever the travelling support was exceptional.

Next up for the u15s is yet another away trip, this time to Droylsden on Monday as we have been tasked to play all the local teams begginging with "D".