Match Report vs Medics
10 May 2018 @ Wenvoe (Skipper and report Dan)
The first midweek league fixture of 2018, and almost to the
day of the very first Casuals fixture 25 years ago. So, what
has changed during those 25 years? Though I wasn’t playing
for the club 25 years ago, I would have been surprised if
during that game there was more than the allotted 11 raring
to play, for this fixture, not only did we have ready and
willing reserves, we also had a keen 12th man, who stayed
and completed the scorebook, and 5 whole spectators!
The game produced some notable differences to our performances
over the years, but also some often frustrating similarities.
Captain Dan won the toss (not usual) and chose to bat. Tesh
and Kim opened up against a varied Medics attack. The first
over was steady and bowling accurate, the proceeding overs
included some good deliveries, but an ever present and recurring
theme from the bowling attack – wides. This also made
it more difficult to gets runs off the bat…as Tesh found
out. After 36 deliveries each - Tesh was on 9 and Kim on 21
– fortunately the score was on 79. Kim then upped the
run scoring shots and scored the next 29 runs off just 19
balls and retired (as is the new League rule to retire at
50). Jesus joined Tesh (who had raced onto 21…). Jesus
started slow then upped the tempo with the Cazh closing the
innings without the loss of a wicket (!!! Very unusual) and
147 on the board. Tesh finished on 31 and Jesus 22, with extras
a healthy 44.
Kim 50 no
Tesh 31no
Jesus 22no
Extras 44
Due to a late start, heavy traffic, the second innings didn’t
start until about 7.45, the sun was still shining but it wasn’t
going to last. Dan opened the bowling from Penelope’s
end, struck 3rd ball – bowling the opener. Shakey opening
the other end was hit for a boundary first ball, but brought
it back and with the added bonus of getting the second wicket
via a run out by Winkie and Jesus –thanks to the new
batsmen being called through for a suicide run. Dan’s
second brought the big wicket of the other opener who had
impressed during the winter indoor league– also bowled.
Shake’s 2nd was frugal and Dan’s 3rd a maiden,
including a drop by keeper Will. Shakey picked up his first
wicket in his 4th. The medics were 33-4 off 8 overs and the
Cazh in a commanding, and dare I say it - an unbeatable position….
Newbie Matt C came on 1st change. He struggled for line the
first over and was pinged for a few wides, but 2nd and 3rd
over regained the line and length remembered from nets. Dave
was 1st change the other end. His bowling stats weren’t
too bad, but at the time didn’t look too good –
the line and length didn’t feel as consistent as has
done, but he wasn’t punished by the batsmen. With 6
overs to go the Medics were on 76-5 requiring 72 to win.
Pablo and Rob were lined up to bowl the last few, Paul’s
first over were unusual, the first 3 deliveries barely made
it to the other end, which, as it turned out were very difficult
to hit. Rob declined the chance to bowl, so Darren eagerly
offered. Dave finished his 4 over spell and Britpop then took
over, his first over was very good. At this point the number
3 bat retired. Paul’s 2nd over changed from barely getting
to the other end, to getting there without bouncing, this
appeared to be to the liking of the new tennis playing batsmen
and the first 2 balls went for straight 6’s, and the
next 2 for 4’s. 29 runs were now required from the last
2 overs. The first ball of Paul’s 3rd over was back
to normal – medium pace and straight – bowled,
followed by a few singles and wides. Still momentum and control
was back with the Cazh. 21 to defend with 1 over to go. The
first ball went for a 2. The next was a very full, over waist
high full – no ball, which was smashed to the longest
boundary for 4. The next ball elicited a little ‘oh
no’ from the bowler… … …as the ball
pitched about a third of the way down the track and trickled
off the strip… … …this was the same for
the next 4 deliveries. Panic was now very much set in and
the scorer had to move on to the next box in the book.
The over continued with a couple of legal deliveries thrown
in, but runs scored. It eventually came down to the last ball
– 4 required to win. Hang on – no ball, 3 to win.
A straight ball – clubbed towards Tesh and Dave at cow
corner – we were safe!! Hang on….Tesh does a perfect
impression of Ronaldinho’s step over and ball trickles
merrily on towards Dave and the boundary. Fortunately, the
ball stopped before the boundary – hurrah. Dave only
took a few seconds to complete his little jig - circling the
ball 3 to 4 times before picking it up and courteously handing
it back to Tesh to throw back in…unfortunately the Medics
had completed their 3rd run and were contemplating running
a fourth. The game over and Captain Dan was still thinking
he was going to soon awake from this very strange yet very
vivid dream….but no.
There is no one person to blame, yes, some of the bowling
wasn’t good, yes, some of the fielding could have been
better, but just as easily we could have scored more runs
or on the flip side the Medics took the opportunities offered
and never gave up and probably (and certainly in reality)
couldn’t believe their luck!
Most of the Cazh headed back to the pub along with Mary and
Joseph, and Jesus’s girlfriend - who needed a drink
to get over the shock of what they had just witnessed –
if the game had been at Easter it would have probably have
been more fitting… as it turned out it was the Casuals
25th Anniversary! The Casuals have lost some belting games,
but to be fair this one will go down in history as one of
our best ever losses – even more fitting it being the
day of the anniversary!
Dan - 4 overs - 1 maiden – 9 runs – 2 wickets
Shakey - 4-0-24-1
Matt C – 3-0-27-0
Dave T – 4-0-24-1
Paul – 3-0-34-1
Darren – 2-0-29-0
Extras 28
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