Match Report vs Sudbrook
01 June 2014 @ Sudbrook (Skipper Shakey, report Dan)
With another rare sunny day landing on a Sunday all the Cazh
rushed to the ground for the 4th game of the season. Well,
I say rushed to the ground...Dan was 7 mins early, Chris Harris
was 1 minute early and Goff was 10 mins late, but the game
started on time and the Cazh were fielding.
Dan and Ed opened the bowling on a very flat wicket. Both
opening batsman looked solid, but Dan and Cheese got them
both to play and miss a few times. Dan had been somewhat unlucky
not to pick up a wicket by the exceptionally static Kim who
failed to move a half a foot to his right and at least attempt
the catch. His slowness was due to a ‘friendly’
game of Aussie Rules the day before – after saying on
recovering from his knee surgery that he would ‘never
play it again’...22-0 off the first 8 overs.
As Goffy was late and was the clear favourite amongst the
team before kick off to keep wicket, the Cazh scanned the
possibles within the team for the new favourite. I think it’s
fair to say that when Shakey emerged with the pads on –
it came somewhat as a surprise and tactically thoughts turned
to what would Roy Hodgson do in this position – put
10 men behind the bat...or keeper? Even after Goffy eventually
turned up, Shakey stuck to his guns and held on to the gloves
– which was fortunate as it looked like he was not going
to hold on to anything else!
Goffy replaced Dan and Britpop replaced Cheese. Goffy, appeared
to be pumped up after being late (or not being handed the
gloves) proceeded to give the batsman the ‘stare’
after most deliveries – either that or he had left his
contact lenses at home. Darren bowled a 2 over spell and bowled
some really good deliveries, though the right-handed had started
to find his rhythm and punched a few boundaries to long on.
It wasn’t really helped by the field being to set to
a sort of ‘half way house’ – neither in
catching positions nor stopping the boundaries, so in Goffy’s
5th over a fielder was brought in close on the on side and
left almost all of the on side from square leg to long on
free. The right hander lost some concentration, and Goffy
put one down just outside off to claim the first wicket of
the day – this came as massive surprise to Shakey who
found the ball somehow lodged in his gloves.
Goff was then promptly removed for the attack and replaced
with Chris whose surname has been in the news recently and
as a young lad then walked into bat – prompted the new
nickname of Rolph.
Pablo replaced Darren. Both began to stem the flow of runs.
Fortunately it was Pablo removed the young lad, with the other
opener then looking to open his shoulders, and was undone
by hitting one down the throat of Tesh at backward square
leg off a deserving Rolph. Paul picked up the next, enticing
a lofted cover drive to Cheese, and Rolph finally managed
to groom the new boy into spanking it to Paul at point. The
game had become a lot more manageable with 5 wickets down
for about 110 and 30 overs. At drinks in the 21st over, Shakey
had been persuaded to hang up his gloves after catching one
off Paul and not appealing because he didn’t hear it
– even the umpires were left scratched their heads (thought
it was only a slight nick), and a very comical stumping chance
also off Paul where he appeared to juggle the ball before
scooping it over the stumps whilst the batman was still short
of his ground. Darren was the next in the firing line.
Tesh had a bowl and encouraged the new adult batsman to take
a 2 – little did he know the dead-eye accuracy of Obee1,
who with only 1 stump to aim for took a direct hit at the
non strikers end to see the end of what could have been a
formidable batsman. Dan had returned at the other end, but
failed to take a wicket, he was replaced by Goff who enticed
the batsman to loft high to Shag at mid-off. With a bit of
forward backward movement, the catch was eventually taken
safely. And like buses, 2 balls later a similar shot was played
with the same result. Obee1 had a bowl too and didn’t
go for many. It was Cheese who took the final wicket in the
last over bowled. 159ao.
Lewis – 8 overs - 1 maiden – 20 runs –
0 wickets
Stewart – 8-1-20-2
Goff – 7-1-30-3
Britton – 2-0-14-0
P Stephens -8-0-26-2
R Harris – 5-0-13-2
Obee – 2-0-5-0
Hirani – 2-0-14-0
Tea was lovely – sandwiches of all types, pizzas, pork
pies, sausage rolls and for afters – an assortment of
cupcakes and chocolate bars with the main even being the scones
(jam and cream).
Kim and Tesh opened the batting, Kim with his crocked knee
and Tesh slowly recovering from his groin ‘strain’.
The pair looked very comfortable and reached 50 without loss
after 12 overs. Kim having scored the lion’s share of
the runs was then undone by umpire Cheese, who gave him out
lbw (33). It had hit Kim quite far down the pitch which upset
him, but it had stayed very low which more than justified
the decision. Enter Britpop who had been practising his Shakey
dab in the nets prior his innings. Determined to play the
dab or Cheese slice anything outside off, found it frustrating
when the bowling didn’t really allow this shot selection.
He was out 5 overs later chipping one back to the bowler (6).
60-2 off 17.
Pete Obee1 was next in and first shot followed on from his
indoor improvement – a solid defensive shot. Next over
Tesh hits one towards the boundary and calls 2, Pete, not
known for his excessive speed, got to the other end turned
and set off for the second to see Tesh paused half way back
wondering if the 2 would be completed. The pair continued
with their original plan and the outcome was no, Pete would
not make it – run out for 0. Débutante Alan Pateman
was next in. He surveyed the outfield and position of the
fielders before he was caught behind off the 3rd delivery
(0). Cheese in next to steady the ship and make up for his
duck at Blaina. The ship was as steady as the titanic as Cheese
trapped the ball in front of the stumps with his foot and
was out lbw (0). 52-0 off 12.3 overs had become 62-5 off 20overs.
Dan, promoted up the order was uncommonly seen playing out
the rest of the over with forward defensives…He and
Tesh looked for runs when on offer, but Tesh’s hamstrings
had begun to seize, so Dan went boundary bound. This was fine
until Dan holed out on the said boundary (15). Paul took over
and started with a square cut through point. By the time Dan
had been for a shower and returned, Tesh had retired due to
his body failing, though it was negotiated that he would be
allowed to return if the remaining batsmen failed. The question
was – would Goffy turn up or would it be another tour
moment?
As it turned out he turned up – he and Paul pushed
the score along to 111 off 30overs – just 48 required
off 10 overs – admittedly not many lives left. Paul
was then caught out for 12. Rolph joined Goff. The pair worked
steadily against the mixed bowling attack, Chris hitting a
couple of 4s and running well with Goff. The score crept along
and soon only 22 runs were required off 5 overs. The adult
bowler returned to try and take the much needed wicket. It
was this point that Goff decided to throw a curve ball –
at the end of the 35th over shouted back to the boundary asking
if Tesh would return if required. Unbeknown to those on the
sideline and Tesh – this question had a rather severe
meaning – the answer being yes if all went wrong he
would return. First ball next over, Goff demonstrated what
his question had signified – like he was on Strictly
Come Dancing off - our very own Michael Vaughan, quick stepped
down the track with a massive yahoo and missed the ball by
a mile. Fortunately the keeper had a bit of a fumble and an
exceptionally close stumped decision was given not out by
a head scratching Obee1. Still, not to be deterred Vaughny
tried again 2 balls later (even after shouts from the boundary
of ‘head down’ and 'play for your average'), this
time he succeeded in being stumped by a country mile (11).
140-8.
Shakey up next lasted a ball or 2 from the adult before being
bowled. So Tesh was thrust back into the action. He and Chris
looked to see the Cazh home with the added hilarity of Goff
being the runner for Tesh. The bowling remained tight and
the spinner was bowling a very good loopy length. Chris lasted
just 1 more over before finally his very good innings came
to an end being bowled for 20. All out for about 145 (even
with an adult Kim scoring the book didn’t add up). But
it did highlight that Tesh had effectively carried his bat
for a full innings (ok about 35 overs) for 32 runs –
including zero boundaries!!!!
Tesh – 32 no
Kim – 33lbw
Darren 6 c+b
Obee – 0 ro
Alan – 0 ct
Cheese – 0 lbw
Dan – 15ct
Paul – 12ct
Goffy – 11st
Rolph – 20b
Shakey -0b
Extras 21 supposedly.
A very enjoyable game, one which many might think we should
have won, but no one is pointing the finger at anyone…Goffy!
A few beers later and a chat with the oppo before everyone
set back off to sunny Cardiff.
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