Match Report vs Pentyrch
05 August 2018 @ Pentyrch (Skipper and report Dan)
It was another hot summers day and on paper we had a strong
side…On arrival the wicket and outfield was looking
better than any we have played on this year – green!
Captain Dan negotiated the toss (a win) and decided to bat
first. Kim with a hangover and Rob with slightly less of a
hangover and with a sore shoulder opened the batting against
a steady bowling attack. Kim had told Rob there were to be
no singles and Rob said he was unable to hit boundaries due
to his shoulder meant that not many runs were scored in the
first 6 overs – just 10 off them. Kim had already survived
a drop behind, but it was Rob who perished – being bowled
down the hill. This brought Jesus to the crease. There was
a lot of defending so the score wasn’t going up much,
as long as they stayed there, the runs would come. Unfortunately,
Will tried to defend another but missed and the ball struck
straight in front of the stumps, the skipper had no option
but to raise the finger. Alex next in – ‘fresh’
from having run the Barry 10k that morning. First ball clipped
one straight to mid-on who put it down. Relief. Hopefully
that would focus the mind. It didn’t – next over
a similar shot this time down the hill was taken by mid-on.
The Cazh were in serious trouble. 16-3 off 10. Kim was given
the instruction to stick around.
Steveo next in. The next change bowlers, saw someone very
similar to Doc who used to play for the Cazh – in fact
he had the same name and he was the same person! Doc took
quite a few wicket for the Cazh between 2006 and 2010, so
we were hoping this wouldn’t happen here. It didn’t,
but there were a lot of dots, where as the other end saw a
young lad (Rutherford) come on to bowl down the hill. From
the sidelines he looked rapid. From the middle – Kim
confirmed he was rapid!! Kim was well caught by the keeper
in the lads second over (and thankfully final over). The Cazh
were now in dire straights, the top 4 (and dare I say it)
recognised batsmen were out with the score on 24 after 15
overs. It looked very likely that tea and drinks would be
looming very shortly. However, the change of bowling was more
to the liking of Steveo and Pablo and the pair began to repair
the innings. On the sidelines there was talk of Steveo’s
defensive shot selection and it was suggested that one had
been seen last season, but today it was not on show. Steveo
clubbed 7 boundaries and played and missed many more, but
at drinks the score was a lofty 43.
3 overs later the score had rattled along to 77, but Steveo
missed one to many and was bowled – but not before he
reached his Casuals milestone of 3000 runs for the club. Shakey
having not batted hardly at all this season was promoted up
the order and partnered his brother. This was obviously going
to spell disaster…on hitting a straight drive down the
hill the pair set off on their run, the call came from Shakey
(according to Paul) to go for the second, and to all on the
boundary edge this seemed like a good idea. Unfortunately,
what no one had seen to this point was the fielders throwing
ability and as it turned out it was straight, accurate and
quick. Paul, at full tilt down the hill was unable to make
the ground and was out by a margin. 78-6. Dan next in, feeling
confident after his mini cameo with Goff during the week,
plus having been advised by the non-striker that I could gorge
on the buffet. First ball missed and hit the pad, it felt
like the finger would be up and pointing, but no – reprieve.
His 2nd reprieve was granted 2 balls later after edging one
to the keeper. He gained a modicum of respectability with
a sweeping boundary, but it was over and out next ball trying
to heave another and top edged it – utter rubbish. 90-7.
Foxy then came out to bat and stuck around for 4 overs, but
eventually played on and Pete had a good go plus run a few
with Shakes – which was fun until he was also bowled,
at least they’d got us over the 100 mark. Last man Richie
went out swinging and Shakey was gaining in confidence. The
pair went for broke in the final over and we almost made it
to 40 overs, but Shakey was eventually bowled with the penultimate
delivery 137ao was a far better total than everyone thought
possible at the drinks break and the middle order did an excellent
job of giving the team something to try and defend.
Kim ct 12
Rob O b 1
Will MW lbw 2
Alex ct 2
Steveo b 34
Paul ro 15
Mark b 37
Dan ct 4
Foxy b 1
Pete O b 1
Rich no 11
Tea was taken – very nice (see Tea report) –
and everyone felt full when going out to field.
Dan and Paul opened up, Dan for some reason again choosing
to bowl up the hill and into the wind… though there
was method in the madness – if the slower bowlers could
get the length right, the balls would appear to be fuller
than they actually were and induce a false shot…Paul
did get the first wicket in his first over (though I’m
not suggesting the ploy worked) – Doc (opening) got
a leading edge and it spooned back to Paul. Dan got the next
wicket, getting the young fast bowler to play on. Paul continued
to vary his line, length and method of attack, and Dan beat
the bat a number of times to the left hander. After 10 overs
the oppo were on 26. Shakey replaced Dan and Pete replaced
Paul. Mrs Shakey put in an appearance, not sure if she saw
him taken his wicket – bowling the number 4. Pete also
got in on the act, enticing the batsman to launch one toward
Rob in the deep. It did look to start with the Rob would not
get there, but then it looked like he’d run in too far
– but in the end he got it just right. The match was
then tipped heavily in favour of the Cazh, with Pete getting
2 more in his 4th over – first bowled the dangerous
looking left hander and then one that was looped up towards
Steveo at cover – who having made the short distance
to the ball, fumbled but ultimately took the catch with a
loud expletive – as this was his 100th catch for the
Cazh and also beating Dan to the milestone.
Kim replaced Shakey and Pete was allowed to bowl on, Kim
didn’t take a wicket but did keep the score down. Pete
took his 4th with a fine catch by Will behind the stumps.
Richie was next to bowl in tandem with Foxy. Pentyrch required
about 50 off 10 overs with 3 wickets remaining. Richie started
well but then lost his rhythm a tad in the second over and
was replaced by Steveo. Foxy meanwhile bowled very well and
finished with figures of 4 overs, 2 maidens, just 9 runs and
1 wicket – the wicket a catch taken by Alex ‘diving’
at cover. Things were getting a little more streaky as the
next batsman in looked like he could hit the ball and by now
only 20 runs were required off 5 overs. Steveo came to the
rescue and bowled the last but one man. The last batsman was
the skipper who also could obviously hit the required runs.
With the pressure on and only 10 to win, Paul and Dan came
back on and Paul got the required wicket caught again by Alex
at cow. The Cazh managing to win by 9 runs in the 37th over.
Dan 6-2-12-1
Paul 6.3-0-23-2
Mark 4-0-18-1
Pete 8-0-32-4
Kim 4-0-8-0
Rich 2-0-11-0
Foxy 4-2-9-1
Steveo 3-0-9-1
A very enjoyable game, and everyone from both sides got involved.
We all stayed for a beer/cider in the superb Pentyrch pavilion
before heading back to the city.
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