Match Report vs Abercarn 23 May 2010

The Casuals made their way to the lovely ground at Abercarn, in glorious baking sunshine. A few of the team were going to be late, so Captain Dan was hoping to win the toss and bat…unfortunately the toss was lost, but amazingly Abercarn chose to field first!

After their monumental innings during the week, ED and Kim opened the batting on what looked like a very bare and hard batting track. Abercarn chose to open with a very slow loopy bowler and a quick bowler from the other. The loopy bowler was difficult to get away when he bowled it on the track, and even more difficult when he didn’t as the Abercarn umpire decline to give wides when they were. Still, the pair tried to get the ball away when they could. After 7 overs the score was on 27 for no loss. The change of bowlers were very accurate and slowed the run rate further. For 4 overs no runs were scored which brought the wicket of Kim (9), who lost concentration and was caught in the slips by a very good catch. 35-1 off 12.

Goff, finally getting a bat for the Cazh (even though his previous 2 games he was batting at 5 and 4), showed good touch, having to keep his wits about him all the time…especially with Ed’s ‘quick’ singles. Unfortunately one the afore mentioned singles took Goff totally by surprise and resulted in him pulling his hamstring. Bringing Kim (eventually) back to the middle as a runner. Feeling the pain, but knowing runs needed to be scored, he began to hit out and clubbed some big hits, but the massive boundary and strangely slow outfield not many reached the boundary.

Not sure if it was a sense of duty to score more, the pain or Kim’s moaning, but Goff chose to retire hurt (17) in the 25th over with the score on 85. Steveo was in next after spending an age waiting on the side lines, However, the long wait didn’t materialise into a long innings, after scoring a beautiful and frankly surprising on drive, he was bowled by a straight one for 3. 92-2- 29overs. Next up was Ash hoping to carry on his form from Barry Wanderers. Even though he didn’t score many, his partnership with Ed was fruitful and by the time Ash lost his wicket for 3, the score had moved to 121 off 31 overs, during which Ed made his 5th half century of the season.

Mahesh came to the wicket and helped up the rate with some lovely cut and pulls and helped get the score up to 157 before being caught for 8. Dan next in, was hoping to see Ed, now on 95, score his maiden Cazh century, …but just 2 balls later Ed was bowled agonisingly short of his 100. 157-5 off 36 overs.

Winkie next in stood at the non strikers end watching Shag play and miss most of the next over as the bowler kept pushing it down leg. Shag eventually managed to get hold of one and get it to the boundary. Unfortunately Winkie lasted just one ball next over (0), caught trying to get the total up. Dion was in next and also struggled to get bat on ball. The last ball of the innings Shag called a suicide run trying to get Dion on the score sheet but actually only resulted in Iain being run out by a mile for 0. Dan finished on 10not out. The total reaching 170 for 7. A competitive total, but was it going to be enough…

Ed – 95 (bowled)
Kim – 9 (caught)
Goff – 17 (retired hurt)
Steveo – 3 (bowled)
Ash – 3 (bowled)
Mahesh – 8 (caught)
Dan – 10 not out
Iain – 0 (run out)
JB – dnb
Rijas – dnb

Tea was had, and was a welcome break from the baking heat.

Newbee Rjas took the first over and looked sharp with good pace after an opening wide, then chucked in a full toss no ball which narrowly missed the batsman and landed directly into Kim the Keeper’s hands. JB opened up at the other end and although going for a 4 first ball brought it back well. Rijas’ second over was a little wayward and got hit for a 6 and a 4, however, it was his 3rd and 4th overs that did the damage. In the 3rd over he found his line and length, bowling very well and had the opener superbly caught behind. Rijas was very happy at his first Cazh wicket and showed it! In the 4th over another quick no ball had the batsman hopping, but followed in with an excellent Yorker, bowling the no2. Next ball, full toss hit the batsman square in the box (don’t think the batsman was too chuffed)…especially when the following ball pitched outside off and hit the top of leg. Suddenly Abercarn were in a lot of bother. Rijas having done all the damage was replaced by Iain.

JB continued excellently at the other end, just conceding 8 runs of his 6 overs and took 2 wickets of his own both bowled. With 5 wickets down and Abercarn on 46 from 12overs, Steveo came on to bowl. He and Iain bowled some very good deliveries and the fielders kept the score down. In their respective last overs both picked up a deserved wicket, Steveo’s being caught by JB at mid on, and Iain’s caught by Dan at cover. 85-7 off 26overs.

With no slow bowlers left…well Ed was still trying to rebuild his body weight (after losing half of it whilst batting), and Goff and his dodgy hamstring, the remaining bowler were Winkie and Shagger. Andy bowled excellently without reward, but only went for 14 runs off 8 overs, Dan, off his short run up, started well and took a wicket to an excellent diving catch by Mahesh at close cover. He took a bit of punishment in the last few overs as the young Welsh player started playing some shots, one of which was dropped by the keeper…:-) , but he got another wicket in the 38th bowled.

Abercarn finished their innings on 136 for 9. An excellent victory for the Cazh. A superb solo batting effort from Ed and a destructive opening spell from Rijas…just need to work on the appealing and full tosses – still there’s plenty of time!!

A few cooling ciders were enjoyed with the oppo in the remaining sun, before the drive home. A good game all round which both sides enjoyed.

Rijas – 4 overs – 1 maiden – 18 runs – 3 wickets
JB – 6–3-8-2 (1 catch)
Warwick – 8-0-37-1
O’Reilly – 8-0-23-1
Hood – 8-3-14-0
Lewis – 6-0-31-2. (1 catch)

Kim (1 catch)
Mahesh (1 catch)

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