Match Report vs Lisvane
07 August 2011 @ St Mellons (Skipper Muff, report Dan)
It was with some surprise and trepidation that skipper Muff
received the phone call from the Lisvane skipper to say the
game was on, after the periods of torrential rain encountered
during the morning. However, after a few hasty phone calls
and texts a full team was drafted in where others pulled out
due to injury and illness…or so he thought….
On arrival, the covers were off, but there was a bit of standing
water near the square so it was decided that kick off would
be 3pm and reduced overs. This would give time for 2 missing
Casuals…it looked almost certain that Napalm would be
a no show as all 9 Cazh were present and as none had been
asked to give him a lift, with no car could be a bit of a
problem…the other lost in action Cazh was CD, though
as it turns out he wasn’t aware he was playing nor actually
selected! Fortunately, Lisvane came with spares, so up to
full strength, the Cardiff City/West Ham game finished with
a surprising last minute winner from Cardiff, the game began.
Predictably, during the first over the heavens opened, all
bar 2 fielders played through it and after 10 mins the rain
had passed. The rain had not dampened openers Shakey or Tesh
who set off at a pace and after 4 overs had already reached
25 without loss. Tesh played in now familiar aggressive strokes
including a lovely cover drive and Shakey brought out the
‘dab’ or flashing cheese slice. The bowlers started
to find their rhythm and the runs slowed. The first wicket
to fall was that of Tesh in the 8th over, bowled for 24 off
19 deliveries. 33 for 1. Steveo strode to the middle. After
2 or 3 wild swishes connecting with thin air, Shakey waddled
down the track to have a word with his batting partner. At
this point, sensing the advice was ‘defend’ Shag
on the sideline decided to introduce the spectators and substitute
Casuals to the game – ‘guess how many balls’
(that Steveo would last) – the lowest was 3 and highest
12. Steveo increased the tension by frequently losing the
strike. In the meantime, Shakey was caught not getting hold
of one in the 12th over (15 off 38 balls). Cheese joined Steveo.
On returning to the pavilion, Shakey shared his advice that
he had given to the Bearded one – “try aiming
at the small round red thing”…not quite what we
were expecting nor had it helped Steveo focus on finding it.
However, in the 13over Steveo found it, and crashed three
consecutive boundaries, one of which almost removed the bowlers
fingers. The innings came to and end in the 16th – undone
by the dreaded straight one (16 off 17 balls). Foxy won the
game with the guess of 12, the two Cazh Subs appeared be well
in with a shout with 4 and 5... 62-3. The first Cazh substitute
veteran Peter Allan of Housing fame joined Ed and the pair
had contrasting styles – Peter blocked and nurdled,
and Cheese blocked and swiped. Cheese did connect with a couple
including a 6, but the slow pitch was his undoing in the 22nd
over top edging it to the keeper (19 off 33 balls) in the
same over Peter tried to up his rate and was caught at cover
(5 off 18 balls). 81-5. Suddenly the Cazh were looking in
a spot of bother.
Substitute Cazh #2 – a young Liam Jones and Foxy the
elder were batting, Liam got a single before being caught,
Foxy didn’t and was bowled for 0. 82-7 off 23. Pablo
and Shag now at the crease. Paul looked in great touch, playing
everything on merit and produced a glorious cover drive boundary,
Shag continued in his agricultural style and after being dropped
twice in the first over decided caution should prevail. The
pair hung around for a good while against some very consistent
line and length bowling before Shag tried to lift the tempo
in the 31st over and was caught at mid off (13 off 19 balls),
unfortunately Paul was bowled in the same over for 19 off
25 balls. 119-9-31overs. Winkie and Muff looked to see out
the overs and push the score along – which was difficult
with the accurate bowling, but both succeeded in seeing out
the overs with Andy getting run out second to last ball trying
to eek one more run out of it. Andy finished on 13 off 16
balls and Muff not out on 2 off 6. The total a little disappointing
135ao after many good starts from the batsmen.
Tea was taken and demolished – a very good selection
of sandwiches, mini sausages, and lots of cake – young
Liam could be a Cazh in the making going for a wholly cake
diet.
A slightly fatter group of Casuals departed to the field,
Winkie thrown the new ball, struggling with stiffness and
heavy stomach struggled with line and length early on but
found a fuller delivery worked best again the 2 solid looking
batsmen. Young Liam opened from the other end and started
on leg but found his line in the 3rd and 4th overs. Lisvane
started slowly and then looked to increase. After 8 overs
the score was 26. Andy bowled through and Liam was replaced
by Paul. Paul also started off target with the young big lad
hitting him for 2 square leg fours, but again came back nicely
mixing up pace, line and length. Foxy was to replace Andy
and first over got the breakthrough…a slow half tracker
which pitched and bounced again, the batsman having started
to play his sweep 15 minutes earlier was now stranded on one
knee as the ball eventually reached him and hit him on the
knee (the one on the floor). Foxy appealled and only 2 decisions
could have been given – out or no ball – he was
given out…though he wasn’t particularly happy.
The following 2 deliveries could have also been lbw wickets
– and in fairness were more legitimate calls, but after
being generous with one the umpire decided against giving
another. Unfortunately this was not the end of wicket taking
chances…the other opener decided to go large to deep
mid wicket…all looked to the fielder who was prowling
on the boundary…oh no, it was Dan, dropper of 7 consecutive
catches, would this be the end to his unexpectedly long catching
draught? In a word no, taking it on the move adjacent to the
boundary rope, it was in…no it was out, it was almost
in again, nope it hit the ground – bollocks. 53-1 off
15overs.
Lisvane never really put their foot down in the innings,
steadily creeping up to the target total. 101 off 25. Dan
and Muff came on at the end to try and bag a wicket, but the
game was past the Cazh by this point and the batsman started
to ‘have a go’ and the game finished in the 31st
over. Mitchell that Dan dropped went on to score 84 –
Dan dropped him on 31 and it was noted in the well recorded
score book (by Andy F) that Paul dropped him on 56 –
but in reality it was travelling like a missile and Paul did
well to get a hand on it – it stopped the boundary.
Andy H – 7-0-24-0
Liam – 4-0-11-0
Paul – 7-0-27-0
Foxy – 4-0-21-1
Dan – 4.1-0-31-0
Muff – 4-0-19-0
There was time for a chat and pint in the pavilion before
heading back off home for tea and biscuits, or for Dan several
cans of blackthorn to drown his catching sorrows and pondered
after such a good start where had it all gone wrong…
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