A win nearly a century in the making was finally had by Revelstoke Cricket Club.
The team beat Vernon by two runs, to record their first home victory since 1938. The 86-year drought was ended by an eight-hour emotional roller coaster on Sunday, Aug. 18.
Heavy rain in the previous days made for challenging conditions as the match started with Vernon putting Revelstoke into bat. Batsmen were tested by a swinging ball in the rising temperatures, while the team fielding first had to contend with a damp outfield.
Promoted to the top of the order, Matt Bramall and Gokul Basene got Revelstoke off to a strong start. Their 45-run partnership was broken when Basene was clean-bowled. The dismissal gave Vernon a chance and they took it, claiming two more wickets quickly.
Bramall also fell, leaving the score at 63 for four wickets. Navdeep Samra and captain Nagender Kanwar began rebuilding, as they provided 20 runs between them to set a perfect platform for the final 10 overs. Despite losing Samra, the captain persisted with the support of Prajeesh Shammy, before he was also out at 127-6.
Revelstoke were all out in the final over, setting Vernon the tough target of 144 to win. As they took to the field, Revelstoke made the perfect start with the ball as Kanwar took the first of another four wickets inside the third over. Shobhit Bajaj and Nobi replied for Vernon by gradually turning over the scoreboard.
Howeveer, Jagwinder Samra, on his birthday, was able to claim the second wicket for Revelstoke, as his great bowl led to a high ball safely caught by teammate Kanwar. The ever reliable Navdeep Samra also produced a beautiful LBW to restrict Vernon to 53-3 from 12 overs.
However, Nobi remained at the crease and a further 40 runs came, before an uncharacteristic reverse sweep led to him falling LBW to Amarjeet Singh. Two quick wickets put Revelstoke in the driving seat at 110-6, and the game looked over as Kanwar and Samra took two more.
A series of dropped catches and appeals turned down by the umpires led to tensions flaring in the scorching heat. Vernon needed 27 from 30 balls and two big overs brought them within just 11 runs of victory.
Revelstoke's captain Kanwar came up clutch, bowling another LBW as with just one wicket remaining, the pendulum swung back to Revelstoke. With seven balls left, and just two needed to win for Vernon, Revelstoke's Prajeesh Shammy dismantled the stumps to give the home town a shocking victory.
The elated reaction may have caught some spectators off guard but it was warranted as it showed how much the players have taken pride in representing Revelstoke.
Next Sunday, Revelstoke welcomes Salmon Arm back to their home of Centennial Park for another matchup. Spectators are encouraged to come out, with free admission.
The skinny on scoring: Teams each have an 'inning' to bat and to bowl. You accrue points during the batting session, with points ranging from one to six, depending on where the ball is hit. To get a batter out, the bowling team can either take wickets (by hitting them with the ball), or by having a fielder catch a ball in the air. Teams have 20 'overs' in an inning, and an over represents six balls, so there are 120 chances to score points. In order for a team's inning to be over, the bowling team must either; bowl all 120 balls, or eliminate all 10 wickets, as each time a wicket is taken, the current batter is then taken from the game.
Cricket terms explained:
Reverse Sweep: A cross-batted sweep shot played in the opposite direction as more than just a regular sweep. Instead of a batter swinging through his body, he swings the opposite way. This is done so that the ball can go the opposite direction, throwing off the opponent.
LBW: Leg before wicket. Meaning that the batter's leg was hit, but it was blocking the wicket, so the batter is out as the bowler pitched an LBW.
Clean-bowled: Meaning that the ball touched the wicket without the batsmen hitting it, so the batter is out and the bowler 'clean-bowled' the batter.