Colin Dredge and the finger of fate

When Warwickshire visited Taunton in the county championship in 1979 and Somerset batted first, Steve Perryman's new-ball burst lasted 35 overs.

It was Colin Dredge, however, who towered over the contest. First he lent Peter Roebuck sterling support in an eighth-wicket partnership of 95, then he nipped out Amiss, Whitehouse and nightwatchman Hopkins before the close. The redoubtable seamer then followed his first-innings four for 40 with four for 51 in the second innings, including the crucial wicket of Amiss, lbw for a skilful 79 on a juicy track in humid conditions, as Somerset won by 153 runs.

It was not the last lbw decision to be won by Dredge during his life.

Twenty-six years later, now aged 51 and playing for Frome 3rds against a touring team from south Warwickshire, The Demon of Frome came on to bowl late in the innings, ostensibly to give the struggling, hungover tourists some cheap runs to make it a game. A lovely man and so modest - you would never have imagined he had been a major component in a Somerest team including Botham, Richards and Garner - Colin had not bowled seriously for years but sent down a few donkey-drops.

A wicket fell at the other end and I went into bat.

Colin's first ball to me floated down on a good length. I waited patiently for it to manage the best part of 22 yards then had a huge mow at it - and missed, straight in front. Colin, with some reluctance, appealed to an umpire who was another long-time member of Frome CC and another lovely fellow who truly did not want to award any lbw decisions against these hapless, lager-soaked tourists. But this really was plum.

Up, to great mirth all round, went the finger of fate. "The only thing I had to decide," confessed the ump as I walked past, "was whether the ball would have reached the stumps."

Amiss lbw Dredge 79. Halford lbw Dredge 0.

Same thing really.