Match Report vs Whitchruch
Heath 8 June 2014 @ Whitchurch Heath (Skipper and report
Shakes)
Its not often we play a team on a sunday whose average age
is somewhere near ours but we did (just -foxy wasn't playing).
Its not often we play at all in 2014 but we did - well sort
of. Its also pretty rare that one of our team ends up in hospital,
but happen it did. And its a bit disconcerting finding yourself
having a pint in a pub garden at 5.30 in glorious sunshine
when the game began at 2.30. But again, it happened. Read
on.
Many thought the game would be off after some pretty short
but horrendous downpours in the preceding days but when we
got there the pitch looked fine although the outfield was
very soft and any hits to the deep would be bound to plug.
Mindful of recent batting disasters shakes decided to insert
the oppo and a least make a game of it.
After an immaculate first over from Ed which produced a deserved
wicket bowled the surprise of the day was the choice of opening
partner for cheese. With plenty of slow bowlers on a low slow
pitch one of them had to open and it was Richie who took the
honours. His second over produced the next breakthrough. You
could say that his cunningly crafted, flighty delivery drifted
in the breeze. More accurately he bowled a knee high full
toss on off stump which the batsman hit as hard as he could
- but straight back to Richie who celebrated his 50th wicket
with a bit of painful hand wringing.
The oppo decided to rebuild slowly and they did against some
tidy bowling from Andy and Paul. Dave then came on and started
with a maiden before being joined by Jeff Clapham making his
return after four years in cricket exile. At 20 overs the
score was only 56-2 and at 28 overs it had moved on to 90
as Kim spilled our first chance at deep midwicket. But then
Richie took a good catch at mid-on to give Jeff a wicket and
the pressure was back on.
Sure enough Dave induced a well struck shot to short midwicket
where Stevo stood in readiness. But the ball hit the ground,
Stevo cried out an expletive in pain/anguish and moments later
he walked off the pitch with blood coming from the split webbing
of his hand. Soon after Andy picked up a run out at midwicket
which was symptomatic of a very good ground fielding display
- the lack of cricket must have given us some energy. Shakes
put another one down diving to his left at cover but the oppo
just couldn't quite get going. Stevo then came back onto the
pitch with a taped up hand and a batting inner to protect
the wound - a curious moment which raised shouts of 'jacko'
from some quarters in honour of the gloved one. But to be
fair he did come back on.
Then in the 37th over a rumble of thunder, following a few
showers of rain, forced shakes to lead the team off in search
of an early tea. The downpour was brief but violent and, after
tea and inspection of a sodden wicket, the game was abandoned
as Whitchurch Heath had amassed just 129-6 off 37.4 overs
with cheese picking up another deserved wicket bowled at the
end.
Off to the pub so we could moan about the rain while Stevo
headed for the hospital
Stewart 5.4-1-10-2
Holliday 3-0-6-1
P Stephens 7-0-32-0
Hood 5-0-15-0
Thomas 8-2-25-0
Clapham 8-0-36-1
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