Match report vs Chartered
Trust 14 July 08@ Wenvoe (Skipper John Furnham, report
Steveo)
An away game to the team that had the league cruelly snatched
from them by a combination of bad weather and the labyrinthine
statistical deviancy concocted by the willow mandarins promised
to be a test for an out of form and somewhat disgruntled Casuals.
Although it has to be said that, despite the scuttling grey
clouds crossing the Wenvoe sky and the damp dead pitch it
therefore promised, our boys were in fine fettle as they took
to the field. The mood enriched by a rejuvenated Mr Gough,
fresh from his connubial activities honeymooning in Sri Lanka
(he had such a good time he forgot to get himself a bargain
cricket bat, so no wood for stumpy then!). The newly married
Mr G bounced around like a grey haired Tigger and quickly
padded up for his wicky duties as the Casuals took to the
field.
The oppo weren’t quite so quick to join us and time
was ticking by as the openers and umpires gradually dragged
themselves towards the uninviting square. Perhaps they were
meandering in contemplation of what so nearly might have been,
much as the Lost Boys stare in at the window of the Darlings
bedroom and dream of a real home, before dashing back to never
never land. But eventually the league runners up joined in
for the start of the shield contest.
Openers Craig M and J Griffiths fared well against decent
bowling with Craig m the obvious dangerman. First wicket fell
in the 5th over as Hood (who was as miserly as ever) took
out the support act Griffiths who had only contributed 2 of
the 20 amassed. Obaid s in at 3 duly perished in the 8th (for
6) off (it has to be said) a bit of a dough ball from new
Casual Darren ‘the Dazzler’ Britton who seemed
a little bemused by all the open space and didn’t quite
match up to his indoor promise; don’t worry Dizzy, you’re
not alone, lets hope you get used to the track and get your
eye back in. The high drifting ball greedily snatched from
the air deep behind the bowler by a balletic Paul Stephens
diving high and far to his left for a spectacular catch of
athletic genius. Oh all right, it fell right down his throat
and deep into the bucket hands of the statuesque fielder,
but we were all delighted anyway.
Another couple of overs and with the score on 62 off 10 the
greedy opener Craig finally perished to a run out. The book
is unclear but it appears to be the Original Dough Boy Dave
bowling and if I remember it was ‘Omar’ Shariff
who chased down a ball and got in a good return to rob the
CT pair of a second run and a good batsman. Excellent cricket
and proves the value of chasing every ball.
[ i could have got that completely wrong tho' as we had another
run out later, stumpy feigning a catch - i.e missing it, tempting
the batsman who was scuttled by a thrilling on target chuck
by winky Hood).
At this point we were quite happy, although the run rate
was accelerating (from 34 off 7) the game was balanced and
we were jolly in the field, much banter in evidence despite
your author being rather hoarse and unable to contribute as
loudly as usual. Our mood buoyed by the 11th over loss of
two bats as Matt Davies bowled No. 4 Huw (for 8) and No. 5
Robson quickly came and went (unlike Goughy on honeymoon who
quickly came but hung around afterwards… sorry simon).
CT 65 for 5
But from here our mood darkened with the skies as the 6 &
7 (Steve and Dale) put on 64 runs (41 & 23 respectively)
as our bowlers struggled to find the obliging track and the
bats helped themselves. As ever the Wenvoe lesson is ‘chuck
it up’ and let the track do the work.
CT 135 off 18 overs
Ov / Ms / Runs/Wkts
Hood 3 1 2 1
P Stephens 3 0 21 0
M Davies 3 0 10 1
D Britton 3 0 42 1
D Thomas 3 0 18 0
S Karim 3 0 36 0
And so a slighty apprehensive Casual camp prepared for batting
as we knew we had let the total walk away a bit. But with
Furnham and Vyas to the fore we had little to fear surely?
How cruel a game is cricket. As the No. 3 O’reilly returned
from a quick piss (lucky that’s all it was) he was forced
to continue directly to the field as the Skipper most uncharacteristically
found himself walking back after the first ball, bowled (cooper)
for 0. ARSE. Thus O’Reilly was in feisty mood as he
took to the strip and was frustrated by the wily bowling of
cooper. Fishing for the ball he lamented the lack of wide
decisions and very rudely remonstrated out loud to the poor
umpire, to whom he belatedly and somewhat sheepishly apologised
later. Uncasual and indicative of the frustrating situation,
tho that is no excuse. Eventually he found the ball and hit
a couple, including a sweet six back over the bowlers head,
but perished foolishly to a lazy bat as he played on. Much
unsavoury language rent the air asunder as he trudged home,
followed by his bat and gloves in all directions. O’Reilly
bowled for 10. This was the 5th over and only 20 amassed,
so the Young Gough strode forth with much resting on his slim
shoulders. He strode quickly back again having had no trouble
shirking that responsibility with some ease. Gough c&b
Hancock for 0. Manish had been painfully trying to keep the
team together but by the 9th fell bowled Sadiq for ten, which
sadly proved to be joint top score (bettered only by 13 wides).
Of the rest, Britton lbw for 1, Holliday bowled 3, Karim r/out
7, P Stephens caught 5 (good catch), Hood bowled (going for
it) 5, M Davies Not Out 6 with D Thomas Not Out 0.
Cardiff Casuals 61-9 off 18 overs.
Cooper j 3/1/15/2
Hancock 3/0/12/1
Dooley 3/0//16/1
Sadiq 3/1/3/1
Morris 3/0/8/1
Moring 3/0/6/1
Little consolation for the CT who must be smarting still
after losing the league in that fashion (your author did mention
as much to them as they were batting!). But they were flattered
by the casuals on this occasion. A nice bunch of chaps who
put up with our banter and who will hopefully face a more
forceful casual camp next time around.
Banter in the pub centred on who you would and wouldn’t
in Corrie (it was on the telly) and we decided that Rita was
now out of bounds. Also of note was Richies new nick name,
Ming, due to his face fuzz (not his merciless batting) and
O’Reilly then rather unfairly became his nemesis ‘Mong’,
a situation only relieved when Ming gained an ‘e’
to become … well you get the picture!
Stroll on another loss, lets hope for a good weekend.
... And keep on smiling
back
|