Match Report vs Llanarth
24 April 2011@ Llanarth (Skipper Muff, report Ash)
So after a collection of us met up at B&Q and the rest
braving their own way there, the whole team arrived at the
picturesque ground at LLanarth. With the sun out, no clouds
to be seen and a lovely little breeze in the air the Casuals
all made their way out to the wicket to check on the state
of play. After a little discussion and a lot of banter, we
made our way back in and left the captain out there to complete
the toss. Now it has been rumoured to say that Muff had been
told the week before that "Tails for Wales never fails"
- well that wisdom was ill advised and once again El Capitan
lost the toss and we were put into field!
It was a show or something similar to see the Casz at their
second game of the season practising the fielding before the
start of the game, easing the other team into a false sense
of security with the less than professional methods and practises
which we bring to the game. Never the less, 2 young sprightly
looking batsmen came to the crease and play commenced.
Dan opening from the first end up the hill and Paul coming
down the hill from the other, the pair continued from their
good work the week before, with the first 4 overs going for
not many runs and the batsman kept guessing at the crease.
Breakthrough came in the 4th over with Paul trapping the batsman
LBW 7-1-4. Once again both bowlers keeping it tight for the
next few overs with Dan then taking a lovely wicket with the
last ball of the 8th over, a ball staying low and smashing
middle stump 17-2-8. Dan was then taken off by Muff to the
shout of "Are you sure?" coming from the keen as
mustard bowler.
Gareth Lovers then replaced Dan coming up the hill, and with
it being his last game before going on tour for a few months
was keen to make an impression on the game. Not the best starting
few overs, bowling some varied length, bounce and lines. The
key to his rythym coming in his 3rd over, taking a wicket
caught by Dan, with the information coming that Dan had been
telling Gaz to bowl with the shiny side of the ball on the
wrong side, probably not aiding him but once sorted was bowling
some corkers! 55-3-13.
Dave then replaced Paul coming down the hill and was being
hit around a little by the keen batsman at the crease, until
his 3rd over when another well taken low down catch was taken
by Dan, which not many thought was going to carry. Llanarth
at this point were 60-4-15.
Dave continued to bowl his full alotment, with the Fox replacing
Gaz and the 2 batsmen at the crease finding their feet and
proceeding to knock us around for the next 15 overs. A well
deserved knock of 50 from one of their youngsters was clapped
by the home and away team, followed by Cheesy making another
great attempted stop in the field but this time using his
chin to stop the ball, luckily nothing to serious. Muff then
came on taking only a few overs before bowling a loopy delivery
enticing the batsmen down the wicket, he missed and was keenly
stumped by Ashley behind the wicket. 131-5-32. The next batsmen
in and only lasted 2 balls before being clean bowled by Muff
133-6-32.
With Dan back on coming up the hill again, and Paul coming
down the hill, Cheese then took a catch which looked like
the ball would never come down to earth and with 40 overs
gone the total was 173-7-40.
DAN 8-3-25-1
PAUL 7-1-38-2
GARETH 4-0-20-1
DAVE 9-1-40-1
FOX 6-0-29-0
MUFF 7-0-23-2
Next up was tea, and we were provided with a true ploughman's
lunch - the cry of "There is lots of green stuff on my
plate" was usually followed by "I don't eat that
stuff?" but luckily grasped out of the jaws of contention
there was about 4 plates of cake presented, which most of
the Casz proceeded to put away.
None so more than our opening pair Cheese and John, who between
them had put away a few plates of cake each. With John's first
words to Ed at the crease being "I don't want to burn
off this cake to fast so no silly singles!" the game
was afoote.
Both started well putting away the bad balls and defending
to the good ones. With opening bowlers looking keen to make
an impact, both Ed and John were happy to wait for the bad
ball and knock it away keeping the scoreboard ticking. Ed
was undone in the 10th over being clean bowled for 21. With
Kim coming to the crease the pair continued to knock the bowlers
around the park keeping pressure up on the field and happy
to take boundaries and run 2's. With Kim rotating the strike
nicely John proceeded to get 50 which was well clapped by
both teams. John then departed for 54 in the 21st over, with
Steve taking his place at the crease for a short time before
being clean bowled for 1. Gareth then took centre stage and
with Kim being caught for 24 in the 23rd over with Casz on
104. Things were looking at that balanced stage we have so
been in before were we fall over and lose games after looking
very much in the game. Ashley then went to the crease and
with him and Gaz knocking the bad balls away Ashley then fell
for 4 in 26th over bowled by one which stayed low.
Paul then went to the crease and with Gaz looking like he
was up for the challenge, proceeded to rotate the strike well
between them, before Gareth in a truely inspired performance
took the game by the scruff of the neck and got 50 off 33
balls! The Casz went on to win in the 31st over 177-5-31.
Gareth finishing on 61 not out and Paul on 3 not out. Gareth
walked into a standing ovation and the game was won.
After the game in a special Easter treat the home team had
put on a raffle, and wouldn't you know it Gareth not only
taking a wicket and scoring 64 not out - then went on to have
the first prize and a box of black magic chocolates - Not
bad for your last game of cricket for a while!
A truly enjoyable day in a great setting - bring on the next
game and continue the winning streak!
ED 21
JOHN 54
KIM 24
STEVE 1
GAZ 61 NOT OUT
ASH 4
PAUL 3 NOT OUT
DAN DNB
MUFF DNB
DAVE DNB
FOX DNB
back
|