Sneaking over the club last Saturday afternoon, as I do occasionally when my nearest and dearest is looking the other way or consulting one of her many recipe books to decide on what culinary delights she is going to conjure for our tea, I was hugely privileged to witness what, after considerable deliberation, I regard as the finest shot I have ever seen by a non-professional player.

That is not an accolade that I award lightly. Although I have myself only been a player of, at best, mediocre ability, I have nevertheless been fortunate enough to have played against and alongside some exceptional cricketers in my 36 year career.

I am referring to the exquisite late cut that was sublimely executed by Abberton's prolific opening batsman Shaun Calladine (pictured right). It was so late that the Hadleigh wicket keeper was left staring into his gloves in disbelief as our man teased the ball backward of point with such grace that three fielders took chase believing it would not reach the boundary. Timed to perfection it just outran all three of them which just proves that you don't have to belt the skin off the ball to score your runs! MP