Match Report vs Barry
West End 13th July 2025 @ The Island (Skipper Jim,
report RobO)
“On a sunny Sunday, 13th July 2025, Barry West End
CC’s Friendly XI and Cardiff Casuals CC’s 1st
XI served up a nail-biting finish at the Barry Oval. In the
end, West End scraped home by 1 wicket in a game that swung
back and forth all afternoon.”
That’s what you get if you ask ChatGPT to write a match
report. Sadly, reality was very different. Perhaps we’re
living in an alternative universe or the Matrix? Either way,
on a bright, gale-force winding day at Barry, the Cazh managed
to retain their nails, with the biting reserved for burgers
and post-match tea.
After winning the toss, Jim decided to bat. Nice work, Jim,
now let’s back it up.
Batting:
It proved to be a rocky start — with the first run off
the bat in the 5th over. Things got moving, but for the wrong
reasons, as Hatton tore through the top order — bowling
Jim (0) and Will (11), and having Ed (0) caught. Pabs, watching
from the other end, soon joined them in the hutch (caught),
with SteveO bowled an over later. 30-5.
During this slow collapse, players and supporters alike were
subjected to a surreal soundtrack of old-school 80s UB40,
with flat karaoke vocals drifting lazily across the field.
A calypso beat would’ve been more fitting, given the
Cazh were batting like an 80s England side floundering in
the Caribbean.
Thankfully, the Westies lacked a Malcolm Marshall or Michael
Holding, and Prathul launched a spirited counterattack—smashing
40 off 29 balls with 9 boundaries - while Rob watched from
the other end before eventually gloving one to slip (19).
Prathul fell at long-on soon after, but not before he had
doubled the score in 20 minutes, dragging the innings back
from the brink, or at least making it look respectable.
As always, "the batsmen let us down" (© G.
Day 2025) so it was down to the tail to make things respectable.
A very injured Liam was LBW (14). Goff launched a 6 in to
the car park before dancing too much - bowled (14). Next ball,
Muhammed launched one into the other car park (19 no). Big
sixers!
Dan at the other end was bowled behind his legs first ball
- the leggy (Thomas) bowling really well with figures of 3–0–5–3
to wrap things up.
Cazh finish on 154 all out in 35 overs, with Prathul’s
40 the standout innings.
Tea:
Time for the ever-hungry Casuals to make the traditional pilgrimage
to Uncle Bryn’s burger van. Morale was high, stomachs
were empty — but progress was slow. A family ahead had
already endured a 20-minute wait for a portion of chips, only
to see the server drop them on the floor just as they were
being boxed. Start again...
With players visibly fading,and hunger reaching humanitarian
levels, talk turned to whether Oxfam might start handing out
food parcels to those in line. Tea report - 7.5 for the burger
but it does need extra bacon. Avoid the chips unless you have
a camping chair with you.
Bowling:
Dan and Goffy opened up, both bowling really well. Dan struck
early — removing two of the top three — with catches
from Jim (keeping) and Will (slip). He picked up his third
at the end of his spell, bowling their skipper.
Meanwhile, Gadd anchored things at the other end, batting
calmly and steering West End into a good position. Pabs and
Rob both picked up wickets (caught by Steve and Will), but
by then the game had probably drifted out of reach.
Goff returned late on and finally removed Gadd for 89 with
a clever (lucky?) slower ball, but by then the Westies were
nearly home.
Credit to the rest of the attack — Steve, Muhammed,
and Prathul all bowled well — but with only 154 on the
board, we needed wickets in clusters.
Barry West End: 155–6 in 34 overs. Win by 4 wickets.
Back to the West End for food, chat and oppo fines!
Full stats: https://cardiffcasuals.play-cricket.com ... ts/6946118
Catches: Will x 2, Steve x 1, Jim x 1.
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