Match Report vs Blaina
17 May 2015 @ Blaina (Skipper Jesus, report Ash)
So the Casuals rocked up to a rather chilly and overcast
Blaina on Sunday 17th, with the pregame chat coming from Shakey
enquiring whether this was a 4 or 5 layer game, and I believe
he fell on the side of caution and went for 5 layers in the
end.
With Vice captain Will stepping in again to captain, he took
his undefeated tossing skills into action and preceded to
win the toss and elect to field. With his only other game
of the season as captain being a washed out morale victory
at Usk, Will was keen to push forward and remain undefeated
as Captain for the Casuals. With that in mind Goffy was thrown
the ball to open, with Luke supporting from the other end.
Both bowlers opened well with Goffy going for only 9 runs
off his first 5 overs (2 maidens), bowling a sublime line
and length and getting the ball to move about, with Luke supporting
well but getting punished for the odd short ball on the short
boundary going for 28 runs off 5 overs.
This brought the part time bowler Shakey and Pete Obee onto
bowl, with both bowling a good line and speed for the wicket,
with Shakey immediately getting turn from the wicket and being
unlucky not to get a few wickets early on with some poor casual
catching skills on display, with a couple of skiers being
put down (one by Will at extra cover and one by Ash who was
keeping, who had not one, two, three or four BUT five chances
in his juggle to take the catch after it swirled in the air
as he attempted to take it over his shoulder! Comments afterwards
leaned towards the batsman being half way to the clubhouse
when the catch was finally shelled, and the other end batsmen
suggesting a clown medley would accompany that well). Never
the less he did the hard work himself and cleaned bowled two
with jaffa's (not the cake, but more on that later...) finishing
with figures of 13 runs for 2 wickets off 8 overs 2 maidens.
Pete supported well going for 13 runs off 4 overs.
With the casuals containing Blaina very well in the opening
10 overs (for just 39 runs) and by drinks at 20 overs (for
just 70 runs), the opposition decided that it was time to
open up and upped the rate in the next 15 overs putting on
100+ runs. Foxy replaced Pete bowling his usual enticing loopy
deliveries which to him a wicket, finishing with 2 overs for
1 wicket for 18 runs. Ian and Richy then came on, with Ian
struggling a little with his line and length in his opening
over, but recovered in his next 2 overs going for 32 runs
off 3 overs, with Richy getting a wicket and unlucky not to
get more than one with some half chances not taken in the
field, 4 overs 24 runs 1 wicket. Ed had a few quick fire overs,
being very unlucky not to get an LBW decision which to all
around seemed as plum as plum could be, alas not given.
Goffy and Luke came back on to finish their spells, with
a few overs later Blaina had retired their number 4 on 50
runs in favour of letting a junior getting a chance to bat,
and a couple of overs later another senior batsman retired
so that another junior could come in. With this in mind the
field came in, and the runs died up a little for Blaina but
there was still time for Pete Obee to take a good reaction
catch off Goffy's bowling at Silly point, and Luke picking
up a wicket clean bowling the junior off the last ball of
the innings. Luke commenting on the way in that he had not
even tried to bowl that one straight, to which the rest of
the team replied that maybe he should build that into his
normal action :)
The Casuals also put down another 3 catches (but as no notes
in the book I cannot remember who or how they were dropped),
as well as a couple of harder chances dropping short or going
to finger tips, leaving it to say that this was not the best
of catching displays from the Casuals but the fielding effort
being on par. Blaina finished with 190 runs off 40 overs figures
below:
Goffy 8 overs - 14 runs - 1 wicket - 2 maidens, 1 wicket
maiden
Luke 8 overs - 34 runs - 1 wicket - 1 wicket maiden
Shakey 8 overs - 13 runs - 2 wickets - 1 maiden - 1 wicket
maiden
Pete 4 overs - 13 runs
Foxy 2 overs - 18 runs - 1 wicket
Ian 3 overs - 32 runs
Richy 4 overs - 29 runs - 1 wicket
Ed 3 overs - 30 runs
Extras (16 wides, 2 byes, 1 leg bye)
With the tea being taken (comments to follow the tea report),
the discussion turned to who wanted to open with Ed. With
no volunteers putting themselves forward in a hurry, Shakey
put himself forward to open and only partook in a moderate
size cake portion as part of his tea.
So with the weather turning more overcast, and as a result
the temperature dropping a few degrees - bringing with it
extra layers and jumpers, jackets and coats being added by
the casuals on the boundary watching on as Ed and Shakey stroud
out to open. The opening 10 overs began slowly but at a well
judged pace, with the opening two bowlers bowling a good spell
each, and having the odd ball zip and dart away causing a
patient start from the openers, 31 runs scored. Ed offered
up a regulation catch at 1st slip when on 8 runs which was
put down, with Shakey being dropped on 28 runs by the bowler
and then again 1 run later at cover both lucky escapes. Cheese
then skied the ball to mid on and thought his innings was
over, but to be dropped when on 37. This brought up the 18th
over and a shout from the middle from Shakey asking was their
any cake, preferably a jaffa cake available for him to have...
With drinks and the 20th over, Ashley kinda took him a selection
of chocolate swiss roll and battenburg, with the first being
downed in one! After 20 overs 97 runs scored and both openers
still out there in the bitterly cold field.
Ed and Shakey both pushed on, with Shakey first bringing
up his 50, with Foxy letting out a gem of a line being 'Every
dog has his day!', followed by Ed a few overs later with both
looking to up the rate, playing more expansive shots. We did
have one comical moment, which could have used the clown medley
from earlier in the game with both batsman almost meeting
in the middle before returning to their respective ends. Ed
eventually fell for 58 runs being bowled on leg stump, bringing
to end a well constructed innings. This brought Will to the
crease with discussion changing to how many Shakey needed
to get to his hundred, and the realisation being that Will
would need to pass the strike to Shakey and score only a handful
of runs for this to occur - a few overs later and with a Shrini
like expertise at scoring in boundaries and claiming a single
off the last ball of the over, hopes of a tonne for Shakey
were all but put to bed. Shakey rode his luck again being
dropped on 60 at mid on, and Will being dropped for 16 at
square leg. With the end of the game in sight Will got bowled
for 34 which took Richie to the crease needing only 5 runs
to win the game, and with Ashley in at 5 not padded up, the
pleas of some and the hopes of others saw Richie take guard
1st ball and have a bye, followed by a very loud shout of
one to get off the mark. With only 1 run needed to finish
the game, the field came in, and came in again some and Richie
saw of the next over for 6 nervous dot balls, which was cheered
from the boundary. Shake then finished the innings with a
lovely 4 and the casuals winning the game with 7 overs to
spare.
Ed 58 runs off 68 balls (6 4's 1 6) - Bowled
Mark 73 runs off 93 balls (9 4's) - Not out
Will 34 runs off 30 balls (5 4's 1 6) - Bowled
Rich 1 run off 9 balls - Not out
Ash, Dan G, Pete O, Foxy, Luke, Ian, Goffy - (DNB)
The Casuals then took to the bar for a well earned post match
drink, and some left over cake and nibbles, and a mix of non
comment-able discussion, with Will remaining undefeated as
captain of the Casuals.
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