|
Match report vs Llanvapley
16 September 07 @ Llanvapley (Skipper Jonny F, report
Shagger)
For the first time in history all the Casuals team arrived
on time and without getting lost, however, in a reverse of
tradition, the oppo took over our usual tardiness. Struggling
to find a full 11 – the toss was negotiated so that
the Cazh were to bat first, starting at 2pm with only 6 players
for Llanvapley (and one on the way), three fine athletes (Shandy,
Shagger and super oppo fielder Dewbs) from the Cazh took to
the field to aid the oppo.
Skipper - Jonny F and Muff opened the batting and began steadily
against the medium pace attack. The runs were kept down as
the pair seemed to be aiming their attack at the three cazh
fielders – though Muff did attempt a run every time
the ball went in the vicinity of Shag (who was feeling the
effects of the previous day’s rugby Leo Sayer)…
It was however Muff that fell first superbly caught (7 )
in gully by none other than Dewbs!33-1-10. Smitts was next
to the crease and very nearly fell first ball to an almost
identical catch by….Dewbs. However, though the chance
was slightly easier than the first, Dewbs realised that it
was a long walk home from Llanvapley so decided to drop his
drivers loose shot. Next to perish was Jonny F, again to the
hands (or finger) from the other Cazh on the field. The bowler
pitched the ball just over half way down the track, hit JF’s
pad on the way up at the knee roll, whilst being 4 foot down
the track, the bowler gave a speculative solo appeal…Umpire
Rog (hands in pockets) started to lift his left hand from
the pocket, then returned it, then when everyone had stopped
looking, pulled his right hand out and lifted the finger…..out.
Jonny F wasn’t as vocal as the last time, but could
be heard crying all the way back to the pavilion (21 ). 34-2-11.
JF’s old running partner Coach Pike joined Smitts in
the middle.
The pair were blessed with a mixed bag from the bowlers,
some very close, some very far away, but it allowed the pair
to play their strokes, including some lovely cover slaps or
‘drives’ from (newly engaged) Pikey. The partnership
was finally ended before Pikey could run out Smitts - with
Pikey being bowled (17 ). 68-3-17. Shandy was next in and
continued where Pikey left off, though the partnership was
cut short with Smitts being bowled just before the drinks
break (17 ). 78-4-20.
After drinks, Feff Clapham partnered Shandy and the pair
pushed, nurdled and twated the ball to all corners in the
innings’ top partnership of 69 before Shandy fell –
bowled (27 ). 148-5-32. Change of bowling, the new bowler
struggled with line and length – length being the biggest
problem for the batsmen – either half track and bouncing
throat high, of not bouncing at all towards head area (this
wasn’t intentional by the bowler – just rustiness
of not bowling in 5 years). Rog was next in and made some
scampering runs before being bowled (2). 156-6-37.
JR next in, but it was Jeff who went for a Yahoo and was
bowled by a non-bouncer – for an excellent (39 ). 158-7-38.
Dewbs next in, JR looking for 26 to make it 100 season runs,
reduced the target by 2 before being caught (2 ). 159-7-38.
Foxy in next. Dewbs lasted a few balls before being caught
(1 ). Shag, last man in, faced 3 balls against the bouncing
bowler picking up byes and wides, before Foxy on strike –
hit the ball straight to the close in cover fielder, shouted
‘yes’ - Easy style, turned his hearing aid off
and started to run, leaving Shag nothing to do apart from
being run out by a mile (or 2). 174ao- 41-5overs. (Foxy not
out 3, Shag(ged) out 2).
The Cazh were pleasantly surprised with tea – after
being told there wasn’t going to be any, a fine selection
of cakes were put out – which were hovered up within
15minutes!
On to the fielding - Llanvapley craftily opened with one
of the two Harry Potters, so Jeff and JR opened the bowling
for the Cazh. Jeff as normal didn’t veer off his normal
good line and length, taking the first wicket in the 3rd over
caught by Dewbs. 12-1-3overs. Jeff struck again in the 7th,
this time a sharp caught behind by Smitts (who also stumped
the bloke in case the fine nick hadn’t been heard).
25-2-7. JR bowled well chucking in a couple of wides for good
measure, but kept the pressure on the batsmen. Shag took over
from JR (4overs;0maidens;20runs;0wickets), and had the batsmen
playing and missing from the off – unfortunately each
one they hit usually went for four! Foxy took over from Jeff
(6-2-9-2), and kept the batsmen guessing – this was
helped with sly Smitty telling the batmen that The Fox was
looking to take his 50th wicket this season in this spell,
and so after an over of forward defensives and quizzical looks
from the batsman, Smitty owned up to telling a big, fat porker.
However Foxy’s figures looked very good at the end of
his spell (5-1-8-0).
Insy-Winsy took over from Foxy and Rog from Shag. Rog got
a wicket first ball caught by Smitts – a faint edge.
80-3-24. He took another in his second, the second Harry Potter
to a full toss landing at the base of the stumps. 81-4-26.
Dewbs got the next one – the opening bat caught by JF
at mid-off. 88-5-28. The last pair of batsmen looked to bat
through the innings though did take on anything wayward. (Dewbs
– 6-1-22-1; Rog – 6-0-14-2). With 5 overs remaining
Shag was brought back on, coming close again, but no cigar.
Muff had one over (after pulling what seemed to be his hamstring,
but turned out to be cramp…) and had a very eventful
over – with a very attacking field, first ball –
dropped by Shandy at silly point, second dropped by Pikey
silly mid off, third dropped by JF silly mid-on, fourth and
fifth – play an miss, sixth missed stumping. The final
over went to Shag and the batsman managed to defend against
the increasing bounce – one even hitting Smitts in the
grill (result!). Llanvapley finished on 124-5 off 39overs.
Match drawn. (Muff-1-1-0-0; Shag -11-2-39-0 (32 of 39 in fours...)
To compensate for tea, the two team went off to the pub for
sausage and chips – marvellous, and the task of finding
our way home began!
back
|
