Match Report vs Wick
10 June 2018 @ Wenvoe (Skipper Dan, report Luvvers)
Firstly, every player tipped up on time and the usual ‘going
to be late’ message from Stevo didn’t arrive surprisingly.
We were scattered around a bit, some in the changing rooms
around the corner from the pitch, and some already on the
pitch eager to get started. Next was the eagerly awaited procession
of the new 25 year anniversary cap issue, however there were
no speeches as Pablo decided lobbing them to each person that
purchased one was more fitting! Luvvers idea of a warm up
was quickly shot down as everyone was far more interested
in watching the skippers toss (the coin) out in the middle.
The general consensus was field first to make a game of it
as our collapses of late were worrying a few. No such luck
though as Dan came back having lost the toss and we were batting.
Luvvers and Rob were the opening pair on a pitch that looked
ok, the first ball got cut for four, and the second a nice
leg side full toss that got beautifully top-edged for six
by Luvvers. This was a sign of things to come from the first
opening bowler as he was all over the place with line and
length for the first two or three overs. The other opener
was quite different, about 9 foot tall (nicknamed Crouchy)
and was getting the ball to rise sharply off a good length.
The scoreboard was ticking over nicely and we made 49 off
nine before the first wicket was lost, Luvvers driving a full
delivery off Crouchy and missing the ball but hitting the
ground, big appeal and a bit shocked when the umpires finger
went up, even the keeper thought it was ground not ball! This
meant Will was in, not happy with his many 20’s this
season he was determined to get a score.
Rob and Will saw off the remainder of the opening bowlers
overs but not without issues. Will edging one to slip and
getting dropped (very difficult chance) when he was on 6,
new pair of bowlers came on and Will decided to give some
more catching practice to the same slip fielder when on 11,
this one an easier chance and it was also spilled! The Wick
fielders would regret this soon after! A good second wicket
stand of 70 was ended in the 29th over with Rob getting caught
behind by a great take from the keeper, a good innings that
was much needed for the Casuals and a good partnership that
set us up for an aggressive last ten overs with wickets in
hand. At this point we were 119/2 off 29.
Will had got his eye in and was playing nicely by this point,
out came the poorly Martin who had been waiting patiently
with pads on for 29 overs, unfortunately two balls later he
was then taking them off! Going back to a full length delivery
and getting bowled. In comes Stevo, bets were being placed
as to how quickly he would be walking back in the true Casual
collapse way of batting. This wasn’t the case though
as he and Will grew another partnership worthy of note. The
1st and 2nd change bowlers were taken out of the attack as
Will and Stevo started scoring freely, two spinners came on
and looked like they were decent bowlers, although Stevo missed
a couple that were inches from his stumps he and Will decided
to disregard the quality of the bowlers and tee off.
With many boundaries to follow the score quickly went from
129/3 off 32 to 225/3 off 40. Shots to note were Wills glorious
straight drives and Stevos six over long off, this period
of the innings could have proved expensive as a nice White
car got hit (Mercedes or Audi?) and also a mention goes to
Will for nearly putting a nice old lady’s window through
with a massive hit over deep fine leg. Will unfortunately
finishing with a sublime 97 not out and Stevo 32 not out,
a partnership of 104 off 10 overs leaving the Casuals with
a commanding total of 225.
Luvvers – 28 - (2x4’s 2x6’s)
Rob – 43 - (7x4’s)
Will – 97 - Not Out (14x4’s 2x6’s)
Martin – 2
Stevo – 32 - Not Out (2x4’s 2x6’s)
Whilst we were batting, the opposition took great pride in
telling us a couple of their players hit a ton the week before,
so even though we had a strong total we knew we still had
to bowl and field well to get the win. Dan opened up with
DT and as usual Dan was causing problems early, first wicket
came in the third over for the skipper as Richie held on to
a catch at short cover from a loose shot (his first catch
for a number of years apparently), the openers continued to
keep it tight and runs weren’t coming easily. Dan getting
past the edge on numerous occasions and DT getting the odd
delivery to rise sharply off a good length causing the batsmen
problems. Pablo took over from Dan and he went for 17 off
his first two overs, he found his rhythm soon enough and started
causing the batsmen problems with a nice variation of deliveries,
unlucky not to pick up an early wicket when the skipper dropped
a difficult chance at mid-off.
DT picked up the next wicket in the last over of his spell,
the opening batsman drove it pretty sharply to Luvvers at
mid-on, 54/2 off 15. Pablo then got into the act, the ‘lefty’
(ton the week before) who was timing the ball nicely misread
a slow ball from Pablo and hit it straight back when he was
on 18 for an easy caught and bowled. In his next over Pablo
got Crouchy (other guy who hit a ton) who didn’t get
to the pitch of the ball and skied one to Luvvers at deep
mid-off, a fumble by Luvvers but just managed to hold on.
Pablo carried on this good spell and bowled the oppositions
number five shortly after, at this point Wick were struggling
at 99/5 off 26.
Pete was bowling from the other end and bowled well for
4 or 5 balls an over but the one loose ball was getting punished
with a boundary. Shakes came on at the other end and in his
second over got two wickets, one was a tidy caught and bowled
that was quite low when it got to him, the other was the very
next ball, bowled so Shakes was on a hat-trick! The field
came in, everyone anticipating the big moment and shakes delivers
the ball………well outside off stump batsman
with no problems, climax completely wasted! Shakey carried
on picking up wickets and got another batsman caught smartly
behind by Will. He then bowled the number 10 to leave himself
with 4 wickets with one left to get, it needs to be said that
Shakes has never had a five-for so wanted this wicket!
Richie came on the far end for a couple of overs and after
a steady first over he then got spanked for his second, unluckily
for Richie the young lad coming in at the end was teeing off
as he had no partners left who could hold a bat. Back to Shakes,
one wicket left to get and the chance came! The batsman top
edged it over Wills head behind the stumps, a couple of yards
to the right of DT at short fine-leg, DT moved towards the
ball and we all thought Shakeys moment had arrived…..but
no! DT couldn’t quite get to the ball but picked it
up and the batsman were crazily running, he picked it up and
threw it at the stumps, gone! Last wicket taken by a run-out
by DT whilst Shakes was looking on thinking you f*%&$r.
Good bowling and fielding display by all with an impressive
6 catches taken with only two drops. A convincing victory
of 83 runs against a good opposition.
Dan - 5 - 3 - 9 - 1
DT - 8 - 1 - 21 - 1
Pablo - 8 - 3 - 26 - 3
Pete - 7 - 0 - 40 - 0
Shakes - 5.1 - 0 - 21 - 4
Richie - 2 - 0 - 20 - 0
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