Match Report vs Kamikaze
21 June 2022 @ Wenvoe (Skipper WMW, report Gareth Finch)
On a beautiful summer’s eve, the usual rag-tag band
of casuals headed to the ‘away’ ground of the
Wenvoe Oval (Name TBC – apparently even after years
of playing there, the name hasn’t been decided).
The sun was out, only one casual (who shall remain nameless…
cough Alex) was late arriving, stand-in skipper Will won the
toss… The omens were good, with the exception of the
opposition captain mistaking Gareth for Will 3 times in the
changing room beforehand. The 2nd coming indeed.
Batting first, Rhys and Rob strode to the middle to open
and started brightly. 13 off the first 2 overs with plenty
of good running between the wickets.
After an expensive start, the Kamikaze opening bowler (aptly
named Shoaib) found an enticing line outside Rhys’ off
stump and after 2 near misses, finally snared him caught behind
for 7.
This brought skipper Will to the crease and he and Rob set
about making solid progress, Will the aggressor, Rob supporting,
reaching 58-1 at the half way stage.
Accelerating into the 2nd half of the innings, both batsmen
benefitted from the aid of dropped (albeit difficult) catches,
one of which seemed to stir the fielder out of a slumber as
Will caked it to him at pace at mid-off. Will reached his
half century off just 42 balls and retiring, leaving Rob to
anchor the remainder of the innings, eventually finishing
45 n.o.
Steve-O and Alex were both bowled late on in the search for
quick runs for 6 & 4.
Casuals 130-3 in 20 overs. (The consensus being it would
have closer to 150 if league umpiring at been in place).
Batting Figures:
R. Davies – 7
R. Owens – 45 No.
W. Mason-Wilkes – 52 Ret.
S. O’Reilly – 6
A. Heath – 4
N. Afzal – 0 No.
G. Finch – DNB
T. Bluff – DNB
D. Lewis – DNB
M. Stephens – DNB
D. Thomas – DNB
Extras: 16
The Casuals defence, fronted by Dan and Dave opening, began
well both picking up wickets early on dismissing the Kamikaze
openers and No. 3 for single figures apiece. The wickets coming
from a Rhys stumping, Will’s 100th catch for the Casuals
(more on that later) and peach of a Yorker from Dan. Dan also
snaring a coveted maiden (so to speak). Kamikaze 28-3 off
6.
The middle order put up a little more resistance with their
skipper and (Al) Capone taking the score toward 50 before
the skipper fell to a rare straight one from Gareth. A mention
here also for Shakes who caused a moments concern when impressively
appearing to injure his hand, knee and back all in 1 fielding
manoeuvre.
Despite struggling with his line and length, Nadders, aided
by Rhys’ often improvised but very effective work behind
the stumps, set about chopping through the middle order, picking
up 2-12 in the middle overs, only 2 of those 12 actually coming
off the bat. Nadders 2nd wicket came via an excellent catch
by Alex, scooping the ball low off the dandelions in a feat
few Casuals could hope to achieve.
With wickets falling at regular intervals and the Casuals
total never really under threat, the opposition opted for
‘creative use’ of the scoreboard, reading 4 for
5 and 58 for 17 at different stages. Meanwhile on the field,
the rest of the innings descended into what can only be described
as controversial in-fighting over ‘alleged’ favouritism
in ‘catching’ field placements…
Placing himself (again) at short mid-wicket, Will incurred
the wrath of both Dan and Steve-O (now attempting to distract
the batsmen by sporting make shift shorts) who saw this as
a blatant abuse of power in an attempt to further his tally
of 100 catches toward their current totals of 109 each. Of
course in the next over, Will duly took his 2nd (and very
smart) catch of the match off Tim, prompting a shriek of anguish
from Steve-O that could only be compared to Luke Skywalker
being told Darth Vader was his father “Nooooooo!”).
High fives and handshakes were shared amongst the team with
a couple of notable exceptions.
In what some would call poetic justice the next, and final,
two wickets fell to catches from Dan and Steve-O – their
110th each, off Shakes and Tim again, respectively. Tim finishing
with a very handy 2-5 despite being a ball magnet at fine
leg (sorry Tim).
An excellent effort in the field with no dropped catches
and wickets shared around.
Kamikaze all out for 72 in 16.2 overs. Casuals won by 58
runs.
Bowling Figures:
T. Bluff: 2.2-0-5-2
N. Afzal: 3-0-12-2
D. Thomas: 4-0-20-2
M. Stephens: 1-0-2-1
D. Lewis: 3-1-13-1
G. Finch: 3-0-15-1
Extras: 19
No tea to speak of being midweek but the pork scratchings
at the Wenvoe Arms deserve a mention for their quality and
inevitable popularity post-match.
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