Match Report vs Rhiwbina 25 May 2010

With the toss lost, the Casuals were asked to field first. Winkie and Dion opened the bowling. Both started very well and Winkie picked up the first wicket in the 5th over bowled. 21-1. As we were playing on the 4th pitch we knew from experience that it had a tendency to play erratically, and it didn’t fail – the ball occasionally lifting sharply off a length. Winkie finished his spell and was very economically. Dion was a bit unfortunate in his last over going for 3 fours spoiling his otherwise good figures. 40-1-8overs.

Shagger and DT took over and both continued to test the batsman. Shag was rewarded in his 2nd over bowling the other opener. Dave kept the batsmen to hitting singles with the occasional 2. The wicket frustrated Dan no end with three deliveries bouncing sharply over the stumps. Dave also took a bit of punishment off his last over which again spoiled his figures. 83-2-16overs.

Gareth and Tesh shared the last 4 overs and the Rhiwbina looked to increase their total by hitting out, Clayton hit some lovely drives, but on the whole the bowlers did well.

Rhiwbina finished on a competitive 115-2 off the allotted overs.

Andy – 4 overs – 0maidens – 13 runs – 1 wicket
Iain – 4-0-29-0
Dan – 4-0-14-1
Dave – 4-0-30-0
Gareth – 2-0-15-0
Tesh – 2-0-17-0

With the wicket playing up, the Cazh batsmen had to stay focused for every ball.
Britpop and Big Willy opened up and started cautiously as was required. The first wicket to fall was Will the ball lifting off a length meaning he simply chipped the ball back to the bowler (10). 20-1-5overs. Kim joined Darren and the pair began to increase pace. At the end of 8overs the score was 39 just one behind where Rhiwbina had been at the same time.

In the 10th over however, disaster struck. In similar fashion to Will, Kim was caught out to a rising delivery this time caught by cover (13). 49-2. Then just 3 balls later JR did exactly the same (0). To compound matters, Darren was caught out in the next over (15) and suddenly the Cazh were 4 down for 51 and half the overs used.

The pair batting now were Shandy and newbee Gareth. Gareth opened his Casuals account by smacking a 6 over mid wicket. They continued to probe and prod and take any singles that they could. In the 15th over Gareth when big again with another 6 followed by a 4. The pair were batting us into a promising position and closing in on the 100. However, there was a twist in the tail with Gareth being caught as the total reached 100, caught on the boundary for 28. 100-5-17overs.

Tesh next to the crease started solidly but was bowled in the next over for 3. Captain Dan joined Shandy and with 10 required off the last 2 overs. They didn’t really want to leave too many required off the last so tried to push it along, unfortunately Shandy perished getting a thin edge to the keeper the last ball of the penultimate over (20). 112-7-19overs. Winkie joined Dan, with 4 required for victory and Dan on strike, it took just one delivery for Shag to cart the ball to the boundary…admittedly very close to the square leg fielder, for victory.

A tense but enjoyable game all round, Rhiwbina proving a very tough nut to crack and the wicket certainly playing it’s part. Very competent innings from the top order followed by excellent batting from Shandy and Gareth.

Darren – 15 ct
Will – 10 c&b
Kim – 13 ct
JR – 0 c&b
Shandy – 20 ct
Gareth – 28 ct
Tesh – 3 b
Dan – 7 no
Andy 0 no

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