I THOUGHT I had seen it all in cricket, but it seems this game still has the potential to catch me out.

It did on Saturday at Dukinfield, anyway, after my decision to take an early shower almost backfired in embarrassing fashion.

Obviously, everyone at Greenmount had been enjoying the 150th celebrations, me included.

We had been partying since the Thursday, when the Lashings visited for what was an absolutely brilliant day.

I even survived an over from Fidel Edwards without sustaining a single bruise, no thanks to the lads for paying for that “privilege”.

Then we had the MCC playing at the ground on Friday, followed by a summer ball that evening.

It was probably not the wisest of moves to organise it on the same weekend the GMCL had scheduled the one and only league double header of the season.

Anyway, most of us had a thick head come the Saturday, but we looked to have coped with it well as our openers made it past 100 at Dukinfield chasing 150.

At that point, as number 11 batsman, I thought I would be safe to hit the shower. Big mistake.

As I got changed, I was completely oblivious to the fact all hell was breaking loose out in the middle, as one batsman after another came trundling back.

Our pro was stumped with the score on 111 and it all unravelled from there.

Less than 20 overs later, and after at one point being showered, shaved and changed, ready to go, I was walking back out to the middle with my whites, pads and box back on.

Needless to say, I got plenty of jip from the opposition, and rightly so.

We still only needed two for the win, but at that point we couldn’t buy a run.

I joined the skipper (Phil Heaton) out there, but we didn’t say much. I think maybe I just asked what the hell was going on.

It was the biggest collapse I have ever been involved in, and I suppose the miracle was that we somehow managed to win.

But I was too angry to be nervous.

To be fair, Dukinfield had pulled off some unbelievable one-handed catches to get us out, but it didn’t hold much water with me when the lads were coming back in saying they had got out to a worldie.

In my mind, you can’t get caught if you don’t hit the ball in the air.

Anyway, the innings ended in a fittingly farcical way, after surviving a handful of lbw appeals we got the winning run off a wide as me and Phil scrambled home.

It was a first for me and there is one thing for sure – I won’t be tempted into taking another early shower.