Match report vs St Fagan’s
28 May @ St Fagan’s (Skipper and report Dan)
After the previous day’s rain it was touch and go as
to whether the game was on, but with no word to the contrary
from St Fagan’s the Cazh made their way to the glorious
setting and the game was well and truly on. Unfortunately
the main square was still suffering from the wet so we played
on the Seconds pitch. As Captain Dan made his way out to the
middle to ‘toss’ the oppo’s skipper explained
the nature of the wicket – it was a new seed of “springy
grass” and so should bounce a bit…..on winning
the toss Captain Dan elected to field first. (an attempt to
at least make the game last past tea and to witness the “spring
grass”).
So with Winkie and BB Nadders opening the game began. After
the first spell of 4 overs each the oppo had got to 41 with
no loss and the Cazh were happy that the pair had restricted
the runs thus far. There had been a little evidence of bounce
from the “springy grass” - at least there was
some bounce and no real variation but to be fair it was a
batsman’s wicket. Shagger and DB took the next stint,
Shag opening with a maiden and DB controlling his line and
length. The batsmen weren’t giving many chances –
Off Shag Dewbs was unlucky with one through slips just to
his right and another to his left that he managed to get a
hand to but couldn’t hold. Shag continued with a cat
and mouse game in how many slips to put in, adding a second
in his fifth over and taking JR out again in the sixth only
to watch the ball sail through where JR had previously been….bollocks.
Tesh took over from Shag and struggled a little with line
and length, but the batsman did more than have their eye(s)
by this point. DB continued through his 8 overs and was rightly
rewarded for his efforts in his eighth after Tesh had spilled
one 2 balls before, BB Nadders taking a good catch at short
cover (there was perhaps a hint of a bump ball – half
the team including Dave and the batsman thought it was, others
(including the umpire, said it wasn’t) – after
all the batsman had scored more than enough – 70. 117-1-24
overs. By this time there had already been a ‘spot’
of rain which we played through – the batsmen seemingly
happy to plod along.
Kim took over from DB and mixed up his speed and length.
Tesh finished his 4 over spell and was replaced by BB Nadders
again. Nadders continued where he had left off bowling very
well and was rewarded by taking the next wicket bowled. 157-2
off 31 overs. At the end of Kim’s 4 over spell, Winkie
was brought back on and took the wicket (2nd ball) of the
remaining opening batsman (65 ) caught by DB running around
from mid-on – a catch that didn’t look as though
it would carry – but Dave took it very well (after a
juggle). 181-3 off 34. Winkie got another in the next –
this time caught by Tesh in the deep. 187-4-36. BBN had finished
his overs and Shag was brought back on for his remaining 2.
Winkie took another in the next over – bowled, after
spilling a c+b chance – though it did go up a long way.
190-5-38. The St Fagan’s innings finished on 204-5 off
the 40 overs. An excellent restriction and good bowling and
on the whole - good fielding. Matt B or Jaffa as he now to
be known (…) fielded very well as did JR who laid himself
out like a blockade to stop the ball. Some comedy moments
to note – Dewbs, after encouragement from Captain Dan
chased the ball to the boundary and dived head long into stinging
nettles and a plastic orange fence (unfortunately carried
the ball over the boundary in the process). And BBN managed
a stop the speeding ball with his foot and expertly flick
it into his hand in one motion – almost running out
one of the openers.
Winkie – 8=1-31-3
BBN – 8-0-49-1
Shagger – 8-1-35-0
DB – 8-0-31-1
Teshtickle – 4-0-28-0
Gobby – 4-0-25-0
Tea was taken just before it began to lash it down and so
gave ample opportunity to scoff at much food as humanly possible
into what could be an extended break…. On offer (apart
from the usual) was a lovely spread of pizza, sausage rolls,
scones and jam, superb little chocolate rice crispy things,
doughnuts and jaffa cakes……of which Matt B almost
cleared out….hence the new name.
As it turned out tea wasn’t extended, as the sun came
out again and rain stopped. So the opening pair of Big Willy
and Jaffa (with sugar levels high) made it out to the middle.
A solid start was required, and it was provided – the
pair hit the bad ball and defended the good one – just
a shame there was quite a few of those. Jaffa was first to
fall (9 ) playing the slower ball a bit early and hitting
to mid-on. 19-1-5. Kim was next in and he and B.Willy moved
along nicely including a 6 from Kim. Unfortunately not many
of the Cazh could see it as they were all huddled in the make
shift pavilion as the rain had started again (funnily at tea,
Kim had questioned Captain Dan’s choice to field first
as surely after rain it would be better to have the oppo batting…?
– Nope, much better to only have 4 of the team shivering
their socks off in the rain rather than all of us, an added
bonus – if it was you rather than me!) On the plus side,
if you were out there, I was told that we were graced by not
one but two rainbows – which is nice….
The partnership (33 ) was finally broken with Will being
caught (16 ) 50-2-14. JR joined Kim, and by now their good
leg spinner was on. So it was now a case of blocking the bad
ones/all of them. JR did so well for 2 overs but fell played
on in the 16th (2 ). 53-3-16. Dewbs followed the trend set
by JR and valiantly blocked all balls that came near him –
in fact all 12 of them before being bowled by a low one (no
“springy grass” now) for (0 ). 62-4-19. Spanky
was next in and proceeded to clout anything that was off line.
It was Kim who was out next, perhaps slightly unnerved by
being hit on the jaw by a wayward incoming throw at the stumps
(while Kim was still standing in his crease) – also
another one to not ‘spring’ off the grass –
bowled (38 ) partnership 26. 87-5. Teshtickle was next in
looking to reach his milestone of 100 runs for the Cazh –
a target that has eluded him for the last 3 matches whilst
stuck on 99……unfortunately it wasn’t to
be today as he was bowled 2nd ball (0 ). 87-6-26.
Shagger was next in and looking to play a conservative innings
smacked the first ball back over the bowlers head for 4. With
the mental target of 150 the Spanky/Shagger partnership seemed
to pick up momentum with a few boundaries and quick running.
The partnership of 34 came to an end with Spanky (16 ) knocking
one back to the bowler who took a good catch to his left.
122-7-33. Winkie joined Shagger, and the pair continued where
Spanky had left. Good running and a few 4’s helped the
total make it’s way to the mental target until Shag
went for one too many and was bowled (35 ) 145-8. BBN next
in bludgeoned a four and then took a single to reach the ‘target’
150-8-38. Unfortunately he too fell at the start of the next
over (5 ) bringing last man DB to the crease. As it happened
DB had said he would refuse to go out if it was raining (again),
fortunately the rain held off until he was out in the middle
– when started to lash it down, but with only 11 balls
to go (and we weren’t sure at this point whether it
would last that long) there was no way the game was going
to be stopped. As it turned out DB faced half of the remaining
deliveries and scored two good runs as he and Winkie completed
the innings not out (2 ) and (17 ). 156-9.
An excellent match hopefully enjoyed by all, if a little
wet at times, the Cazh did themselves proud – well done
all. Apologies to Dewbs who umpired for 20 overs mostly in
the rain…but if you’re going to drop two catches
in the slips you’ve got to expect it!!!!
On one further note – congratulations are in order
– Goughy who was unable to make the game, was busy proposing
to his girlfriend, Emma, and in true Casuals/Goughy fashion
she shouted “come one” and agreed! Not too sure
she knows what she is letting herself in for as only been
living together for a couple of months….but from everyone
in the team - a big, warm, cuddly Cazh congratulations to
the both of you!
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