Match report vs Sudbrook
08 July 07@ Sudbrook (Skipper JF, report Smitts)
Have nothing to do with coaches. In fact, if you
should see one coming, go and hide behind the pavilion until
he goes away." - Bill O'Reilly
After 18 days of infuriating weather the Casz arrived at
the quite splendid cricket ground of Sudbrook and were greeted
by warm weather and blue skies. It quickly became apparent
that the opposing team was a fine balance of young strapping
20 somethings and an endless stream of rigorously coached
young tykes. Spirits were high after the unseasonable downpour
and everyone was chomping at the bit to get stuck in.
First blood to Sudbrook as they won the toss and elected
to bat first.
"A very small crowd here today. I can count the people
on one hand. Can't be more than 30." - Michael Abrahamson
Skipper for the day, JF threw the ball to the ever reliable
Winky and the match was underway. Unfortunately the radar
was on the blink and with Andy having to scrape off the rust,
7 runs were conceded off his first over. Muff on the other
hand was exceptional and started with a maiden. In his second
over the Winky we all know and love returned and Sudbrook
lost their first wicket. A fantastic ball bowled at pace that
nipped back off the seam, through the gate and demolished
the stumps. Shaw bowled by Hood for 7. Muff was eventually
rewarded for his disciplined bowling with the wicket of Gibbons
who was trapped LBW having scored 9. Winky and Muff maintained
this excellent start restricting the Sudbrook batsmen and
the pressure built. The fielding on the other hand was less
than impressive. Ash dropped a difficult chance standing at
second slip off the bowling of Hood and Muff was also guilty
of putting one down off his own bowling. Around 6-7 decent
chances went down and heads in the field dropped. Would the
Casz be made to pay for these missed chances? Only time would
tell. Muff and Andy finished their opening spells having bowled
6 overs each, taking a wicket a piece and conceding 18 and
20 runs respectively. Sudbrook 39 for two off 12.
Next up to bowl was The Doc and Pikey. The Doc struggled
a bit with his line but also bowled the odd bobby dazzler.
One delivery turned and bounced so much that it nearly decapitated
Smitty standing up behind the stumps. Pikey started off well
but took a little bit of punishment in his last 2 overs with
the batsmen looking to accelerate. The Doc finally made the
breakthrough the Casz needed when the batsman chopped one
on to his own stumps. Willis bowled by Davies for 41. Tesh
took over from Pikey and started with his medium pace reverting
to googlies after a couple of overs. He bowled a couple of
beamers and a couple of double bouncers keeping the batsmen
on their toes. Davies conceded 36 from his 6 overs taking
one wicket. Pike conceded 34 from his 4 and Tesh conceded
31 from his 4. Sudbrook 145 for 3 off 28.
The Casz were in a little bit of trouble. They needed to
improve their fielding, stem the flow of runs and take some
wickets. The two turning points of the game were JFs
team talk at drinks, after which the fielding improved remarkably
and the introduction DT and Bagpuss. These two bowlers kept
it tight and took wickets. DT clean bowling the oppositions
Danger Man who finished on 56 in his first over and went on
to only concede 15 from his 6. Shakey picked up 2 from his
4 overs. One LBW and the other stumped by Smitty in a strange
dismissal where neither umpire or keeper were sure what was
going on. To explain, the batsman had clearly been confused
by the encouragement coming from behind the stumps. After
one dot ball Smitty called out, Ohh top bowling that
Shakey, we like that line Monty, nice flight bagpuss, lets
get him driving counsellor, more of the same please Mark.
The batsman looked around a little bit bemused obviously under
the impression that either the wicket keeper was an idiot,
or the bowler was some kind of crazed schizophrenic who could
flip at any moment, charge down the pitch and bludgeon the
batsman to death with his own arm. Next ball he got down on
one knee trying to paddle the ball round the corner from outside
the off stump, missed it and fell over. Smitty in a flash
had the bails off and the square leg umpires finger was up
but
no appeal came from the keeper
.then after about 5 seconds
Smitty ventured, How is he? The umpire remained
unmoved not sure as to what was going on. Smitty tried again
a little louder, HOW IS HE? Still nothing, and
again, AHHHHHHHH ISSSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEEEE?
Well what happened was this. Smitty had taken the bails off
and then was unsure as to whether or not he was holding the
ball. The umpire had given the batsman out and now with the
absence of an appeal was not so sure. Smitty regained his
composure, realised he had got the ball and began to appeal.
The umpire was now not convinced that Smitty had the ball
either. After a short conversation we sorted it all out and
the batsman was dismissed. Back to the action. Winky finished
off his overs picking up another wicket and the surprise packet
of the day JF bowled two at the death picking up a wicket
LBW (Even thought the batsman clearly hit it, but it was obvious
that no one like him much so off he went) and completing a
run out.
Sudbrook finished their innings 172 9. Some members
of the team commented that this was probably 100 too many.
Oh ye of little faith.
Bowling Figures
Hood 8-1-28-2
Foote 6-2-18-0
Davies 6-0-36-1
Pike 4-0-34-0
Hinrani 4-0-31-0
Thomas 6-0-15-1
Stephens 4-0-12-2
Furnham 2-0-5-1
"Now, Pakistan are in real trouble." - Tony Greig,
with Pakistan on 9/58
With 173 runs required for the victory JF and Easy took to
the field to open the batting for the Casz. It quickly became
apparent that scoring was going to be difficult with athletic
fielding and the young classically coached bowlers all finding
a good line and length from ball one. They started well, playing
sensible cricket picking up ones and twos when they were on
offer. In the sixth over the Casz lost their first wicket.
Easy caught off the bowling of Clemence for 6. This bought
Akbari to the crease and together with JF they kept the scoreboard
ticking over. The eleventh over was a wicket maiden. JF tried
to kick one away that pitched out side leg and unfortunately
for him the ball went straight through his legs and on to
the stumps. JF bowled for 8 by Williams. Akbari and The Doc
were now at the crease but the partnership didnt last
long. The very next over Akbari top edged one to first slip
playing a one knee paddle. Akbari caught for 8 off the bowling
of Williams. The Casz were now 27 for 3 off 12.
"Alright, this bloke's a prime candidate for a run
out: he's a bit fat and he's wearing rubber soles."-Peter
Bickle
In at number 5 for The Casz was Smitty. He started well taking
two off his first ball and after a conversation with The Doc
the plan was to hang around and see where they were in ten
overs. The scoring started to pick up with a lot of twos and
threes and it looked like the Casz were back on track. Then
disaster, The Doc was caught off the bowling of Williams for
11. With The Casz now four down and with only 43 runs on the
board things were looking grim. Tesh strode out and after
a conversation with Smitty the plan was to hang around and
see where they were in ten overs. Two overs later Williams
struck again and Tesh was clean bowled for four. In came Shakey
and after a conversation with Smitty the plan was to hang
around and then see where they were in ten overs. (Sound Familiar?)
It also needs to be pointed out at this point that Smitty
was starting to suspect that it might be his day. Hed
already missed the ball on more than one occasion only to
see it fly past the off stump by a whisker, fallen over twice
and been dropped several times. However he was still in and
edging closer and closer to his top score of 33. The main
problem was that he knew this as Muff was very kindly providing
ball by ball updates on the massive scoreboard. The nerves
kicked in and were followed by some silly shots spooning the
ball up in the air only to land just short of a fielder. Shakey
on the other hang with his reliable dabbing was looking quite
comfortable only being troubled by the occasional jaffa from
one of Sudbrooks many wonder kids.
"Yorkshire all out 232, Hutton ill! I'm sorry.Hutton
111" - BBC news announcer
Just as Shakey looked as if he was finding his feet he pulled
his groin and a runner was called for. Tesh stepped up to
the plate. As we all know the runner must be wearing the same
equipment as the batsmen, so once Tesh had his gloves, pads,
bat, extra pillows and glasses on we were ready to get back
to the action. Unfortunately with his limited mobility Shakey
struggled and was soon caught behind for 7 yet again off the
bowling of Williams. The Casz were now 89 for 6. Pikey was
in next. See if you can guess what the plan was? Thats
right. Sudbrooks youngest player was brought on to bowl,
obviously the young lad was a little nervous. Now how would
Smitty and Pikey play him? Well Smitty being the mean spirited,
cold hearted bastard that he is decided to spank the small
child all over the ground. In truth the young lad got better
the more he bowled and Smitty was lucky not to be caught on
the boundary on several occasions. The increase in run rate
meant that the Casz were not only back in this game but controlling
it. Smitty passed his 50. His first for the club and together
with some quality batting from Pikey the two managed to edge
closer and closer to the winning total. The Sudbrook skipper
decided enough was enough and bought his big guns on to bowl
but alas it was too late. Smitty and Pikey managed to get
within 4 runs of victory before Smitty was caught (by the
young kid) trying to hit a boundary to finish it off. Smitty
caught by Shepard off the bowling of Bajjada for 82.
The Casz 169 7 off 36,
Surely they couldnt lose it from here.
Enter Winky. . . . . .Exit Winky,
The Casz 169 8 off 37,
Enter DT
..Exit DT,
The Casz 169 9 off 38,
Enter Muff
Pikey managed to nurdle a few runs and soon the Casz only
required 2 for the victory. They came from a genuine edge
and as the keeper was standing up the ball ran away to the
boundary for 4.
The Casz finish on 175 -9 and win by 1 wicket
An exceptional innings from Pikey seeing the team home. He
finished on 39 not out. Muff finished on 0 not out.
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