Match Report vs Ponthir
19 July 2020 @ Ponthir (Skipper Will, report Goffy)
So it begins.....after almost 10 months in the wilderness,
we finally embark on our 2020 journey. This game will go down
in the history books as the first after "Lockdown",
"post-Covid" or even the first during "the
new normal" or "business as unusual".
We were invited by our hosts to arrive for a prompt 1.30pm
start. All casuals were present and correct well before this...
(apart from Steve O, Goffy, Dan, DT, Richie & Britpop)
so we were able to get started on time (apart from it was
about 2pm and apart from Britpop who thought he would join
us a couple of overs in).
With glorious sunshine as the backdrop and our new 2020 Skipper
(complete with a stone missing & new boots!) won the toss.
We were to field first. NEW COVID RULES to be considered.
A sanitary session at every 6 overs and don't fucking touch
anything pretty much sums it up. No diving, no bombing, no
petting were also mentioned.
Dan and Goffy opened proceedings with the ball and restricted
the cautious opening batsman well. Mainly dots a plenty until
Dan got a deserved breakthrough. They were 23 for 1 after
first 12. (after 2 sanitising breaks, we decided we couldn't
be arsed to walk off each time and so the wipes and sticky
solutions had new homes behind the stumps)
DT up next to replace Goffy. DT had been doing a great job
for Dan at mid on and hadn't put a foot wrong (well nearly
hadn't) but Goff kindly suggested he would field there to
give DT a breather at fine leg in between overs. A great plan.
Dan used his new covid found knowledge of 2 metres to distance
Goffy exactly where he wanted him. Second ball of the over...
the execution perfect.... the remaining opening bat continued
to try to swat everything legside… as per Dan’s
plan the ball whistled directly across to the new fielder
at mid on…..and he shelled it! Obviously the slippery
sanitiser being the reason! That should have been another
for Dan but he made amends by skittling the number 3 a couple
of balls later. 28-2.
DT eventually opened up with a snorker of a delivery. Waste
high slow full toss on the legside. Dispatched for four and
the field dispersed. A couple of balls later, ‘Hands’
lived up to his name with some amazing glovework that we have
come to know and love. Another dolly shelled. Obviously the
slippery sanitiser being the reason…..on the er..gloves.
But as is normally the way for a Casuals bowler, wickets come
on a DIY basis. The next ball was straight and the batsman
had no answer for that. 32-3
Keith replaced Dan and toiled away with DT. The oppo were
obviously looking to up the run-rate too. DT bagged his brace
during this spell with another cleaned bowled (again, always
best to leave the fielders out of the equation) 66-4. Keith
efforts were rewarded 1 run later as the 1st casuals actual
catch of the post Covid era was taken by Stevie B!! 67-5.
Richie and Steve O took us through the middle to latter overs.
No luck but there was a classic 9 ball over form Richie which
went for 22! Poetic. 140 odd -5 (still).
The closing overs were bowled out by Stevie B and Luvvers.
Steve bowled the dangerous No 4 (who had just bagged his first
half ton) 143-6. Only another 11 runs added before tea. A
very gettable 155 needed to win at less than 4 an over. What
could possibly go wrong?
Dan 8ov 2-12
Goff 6ov 0-16
DT 8ov 2-22
Keith 5ov 1-33
Richie 4ov 0-40
SteveO 4ov 0-19
Steve B 3ov 1-2
Luvvers 2ov 0-10
We all tucked into our self-prepared picnics. No sharing
of any kind allowed. All rolls and sandwiches had to be sanitised
before consumption.
Britpop, who had a very quiet time in the field (apart from
putting down a difficult one at long off) was keen to open
up with Luvvers and get his 2020 season off to a flyer with
the bat. Padded up and one practice stroke later prior to
crossing the rope… he’s retired himself hurt.
0-0 off 0 (10 batsman left).
Stevie B promoted to open with Luvvers and they knew they
had plenty of time. By the 6th over we were cautiously rolling
and unbeaten on 17. By the end of the 16 over we had progressed
to a foundation building 41-1 with Luvvers being the only
casualty by misjudging the flight of a shortest one that kept
low. Skipper WMW had joined Steve and we were looking comfortable.
Steve was soon to ‘crash’ the ball into his pads
and be given out LB by his own teammate. Obviously it was
the slippery sanitiser being the reason! 42-2.
Richie joined Will. It was soon 59-3
SteveO joined Will. It was soon 70-4 (SteveO caught off the
7th ball of the over after our scorer awarded them another
ball. Obviously it was the slippery sanitiser being the reason!)
Jim joined Will. Will holes out on 49! 87-5
No need to panic. Still 13 overs left and only 60 odd needed.
5 wickets in hand (well 4 and retired hurt Britpop who is
now thinking of a left handed debut)
Keith, Goff, Dan, DT and Britpop to come.
111 all out.
Luvvers bowled 15
Steve B LBW 5
WMW Ct 49
Richie LBW 6
SteveO ct 0
Jim not out 11
Keith ct 1
Goff ct 1
Dan bowled 3
DT ct 0
Britpop (left handed) run out 1
So in summary, we had late arrivals, dollies put down, long
hops full tosses, 9 ball overs, shocking fielding, shocking
umpiring, shocking scoring, retired hurt before playing and
an amazing collapse chasing a small total on a lovely sunny
day. For those who talk about “the new normal”
or “business as unusual” you couldn’t be
further from the truth. We are back and its very much business
as usual and we love it!
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