Back again a couple of levels below international cricket, last weekend was the first weekend for finals in 2020/21.
The added variable is Sydney’s weather is always fickle around this time.
Finals set-up is that the top 6 teams in each grade progress with ladder position based on points won and any tie split by “quotient” which is batting average/bowling average.
1v6, 2v5 & 3v4 with higher ranked team needing to be beaten and the highest ranked loser getting a second chance for the semi finals. Games are played on Sat&Sun with 96 overs per day.
Widespread rain through the week meant wickets were often underprepared and then there was heavy rain on the city east on Friday. Any ground with decent covers got a full or near full game on Saturday with the forecast prospect of Sunday being rained out.
So for the top teams the aim is to survive the day and the toss can be definitive.
A situation ideal for the gods of cricket to be their capricious worst.
In 1st grade (our #2 v 5) they won the toss and batted. Reasonable deck under circumstances, slow outfield. They made a solid start. Were 0-50 odd then collapsed to 8-96 and recovered to be all out 160, about 100 shy of par.
We had 39 overs to bat and getting to stumps was the primary aim and were OK at 3-81.
Sunday was a day of intrigue rather than play. Overnight rain made the outfield sodden. The pitch was well covered and always going to be playable. A fine Scottish mist thru the morning wrecked any prospect of play in the morning session between 10:30am and lunch. After lunch the mist stopped, there was no sun all day but a helpful wind and the opposition asked to borrow our Club’s SuperSoppers. They worked like Trojans for the next three hours removing water from the surrounds, run-ups and off the covers. Did a real good job too. We, of course did nothing to assist them.
There were intermittent showers and any opposition players who weren’t delegated to pushing the barrows were outside kicking a ball in short sleeves and bare feet to show the umpires that it was fine and that a start of play might be imminent. Anytime one of us ventured from the clubhouse onto the field we were under firm instructions from the captain have an unfurled umbrella, be wearing a hoodie and boots for exactly the opposite impression. 
We eventually got just 6 overs in before the weather intervened and they conceded.
Our 2nds were playing a just couple of kms away and were in equivalent circumstances (us #2v5) but after dismissing the opposition for a gettable 169 had an unfathomable batting collapse and spend the last hour of Sat trying to get through to stumps and maybe saved by rain. But they were bowled out for just 30. Even worse, the 1v6 game was a near replica and if the #1 team lost our 2s would be eliminated. The #1 team finished 8 down but despite waiting around all day on the Sunday, not another ball was bowled and so they progress as #1 and our 2s got out of gaol though they lose their ranking and are now the #4 team in the semis.
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