There is a school of thought – not entirely without merit – that a catch is merely a fielding option. A suggestion. An invitation extended to the ball, which the ball is at liberty to decline. On Friday evening at Shanganagh Park, the Archives extended six such invitations. The ball declined almost very one. But it turns out that while catches win matches, drops (not matter how many) won’t necessary lose them.

Phoenix, emboldened by the hospitality on offer, compiled a watchful 119 from their 20 overs, with four of their batsmen reaching the iconic 20+ milestone. Phoenix’s Man of the Match, John, was chief among them – reaching his own retirement before returning to bowl a maiden 19th over that very nearly swung the match (Editor’s note: the Director maintains that his watchful defence in the penultimate over was merely a vote of confidence in Sushant getting the job done in the final over). Stewart claimed one wicket for a miserly 6 runs from his allocation, while Gordon took the other in a tight final over. In truth, only two wickets fell all innings, but the bowling – from Shailesh (0-2), Stewart (1-6), and Sushant (0-4) in particular – was suffocating. The runs were squeezed out of generosity in the field, not inadequacy with the ball. At times the fielding was carefree. At other times it was careless. Some of the dropped catches were tough, some routine, while one – a slow-motion car crash of a collision between the Director and the Treasurer (Stewart) – hovered between comical and pathetic.

The evening’s real fielding hero was Jamie’s son, Oscar – stationed beyond the boundary rope, gamely retrieving balls from behind the fenced-off park renovations with the enthusiasm of a future all-rounder who, on this evidence, already has safer hands than most of the senior squad.

The Archives’ reply began in the manner of a man stepping confidently off a kerb and directly into a puddle. Jamie, having faced two balls and troubled neither the scorers nor the opposition, was run out for a duck. A normal evening in Shanganagh Park – in case anyone ever doubted it.

Gordon, flush from his fiendish bowling at the death, opened with purpose and poise, contributing 13 stylish runs before being bowled. Shailesh batted with typical flair to reach retirement at 21. Stewart batted with the quiet authority of a man who knows exactly where his off stump is, reaching retirement without alarm.

Richard – captain for the evening - looked comfortable. Ominously comfortable, in the way that English batsmen often do before they mistake confidence for competence. Seventeen runs later, the dismissal was an ugly swipe across the line – the kind of shot that looks, in retrospect, like it was always going to happen. Bowled by Shreyesh – who, despite figures of 1-9 and a graceful 20+ score to boot, was ignored for Phoenix’s Man of the Match by a captain exercising the ancient and petty right to overlook the man who humbled him.

Saj announced himself with a crashing six, then immediately feathered one behind to bring the Archives’ wobble into full bloom.

Raman, batting at 7 – a number whose superstitious significance remained unclear even if his intent did not – refused to give luck a chance and blitzed his way to retirement, blasting his final ball to the boundary. Again.

Throughout all of this, Hari sledged. He sledged the opposition. He sledged his own teammates. He sledged with the relentless, indiscriminate commitment of Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket – only with a disarming smile that made it impossible to take lasting offence. Flash Hari: everybody’s problem, nobody’s enemy.

Russ, selflessly attempting to close out the victory with a quick single, was run out – following Jamie’s lead from earlier in the evening. If one run-out for nought is a misfortune, two in the same innings looks like policy.

With wickets in short supply, Simon faced John’s maiden 19th over with peerless defence. Dead bat. Forward press. Nothing given. One over left. One run needed.

Sushant had been watching. Waiting. The first ball of the 20th over arrived, full and hittable. The shot was emphatic – a crashing boundary that scattered both the fielders and any remaining tension. Dalkey Archives: 122. Target: 120. Won by two wickets on the first ball of the last over.

This is my cricket club. There are many like it. But this one is mine.

Phoenix 119 (20 overs)

Dalkey Archives 122-8 (19.1 overs)

Dalkey Archives won by 2 wickets

[Written by Richard Lappin]