Match Report vs Eclipse 24th June 2026 @ St Fagans (Skipper Steveo, Report Iwan)

The Casuals rolled into St Fagans for a midweek league game against Eclipse – one of the club’s longest standing fixtures – on what at that point was the hottest day of the year. Because of the weather, the game was reduced to 18 overs a side, and additional drinks breaks (presumably mandated by FIFA) were agreed. The Casuals were very happy when our skipper, the ever-enthusiastic tosser, returned from the middle informing us we were to bat first.

Before the game, it was agreed the usual attire would not be necessary – instead focussing on staying as cool and comfortable as possible. While some of the purists of the team maintained a full white dress-code, the rest were much more liberal, including a mixture of whites, vests, shorts and some relaxed-fitting swim shorts as modelled by our commander in chief.

After applying a healthy amount of sunscreen, out strode our openers in Will and Greg who played fluently, ticking along nicely to a total of 48-1 by the first hydration break (available for sponsorships if it catches on) only having lost Will for 19 nicking through to the keeper who took the ball after a little juggle off the bowling of Brian. By this point, Liam had joined Greg and after being given some gentle encouragement/ heckling from the skipper after a couple of balls, started to find the middle of the bat nicely.

After drinks, Greg was bowled (also by Brian) for 22, meaning the score was 55-2 after 7 overs. Liam was joined by the skipper, who played an excellent dot ball before the bowler (Nathan) broke his defences and bowled him for a duck. That left the score at 57-3 after 8 overs. Liam was joined by Joe in the middle, but the loss of those wickets stalled the momentum of the innings. Liam and Joe both put in plenty of effort – demonstrated by the amount of sweat they both produced – but the ball was difficult to get hold of, and fielders always seemed to be in the right place. At the next hydration break the score was 74-3 off 12 overs.

Liam battled his way to a top score of 23, when he was caught off the bowling of Farhi in the 15th over with the score on 89-4 – never has a man looked so wet so far away from the sea. Liam’s departure led to the introduction of Gareth who quickly brushed off his pad rash and began to go after the bowlers – leading to a final over going for 17 runs, and ending the innings on 118-5, with Gareth falling to a well taken caught and bowled off the last ball for 21 by Ali. Joe, who was not out after a battling innings, looked like he’d run through some sprinklers on the way to the pavilion.

Will – 19 (12) Caught WK, Bowled Brian
Greg P – 22 (25) Bowled Brian
Liam – 23 (21) Caught, Bowled Farhi
SteveO – 0 (2) Bowled Nathan
Joe – 12 (33) Not Out
Gareth – 21 (12) Caught and Bowled Alli
Extras (Good player) – 20

Total – 118-5. 18 overs.

Brian – 4-0-34-2
Nathan – 4-0-23-1
Lee – 3-0-23-0
Sol – 4-0-14-0
Farhi – 2-0-6-1
Alli – 1-0-17-1

Those who have played Eclipse in the past were aware of their batting ability, and felt the score was bit short of where it would need to be for a win – so wickets and tight bowling were needed in the second innings. After a quick turnaround, with plenty of beverages consumed and more sun cream applied the Casuals took the field.

With the weather finally started to cool a tiny bit and some shade starting to appear around the field, there was plenty of encouragement and enthusiasm on the field, which was followed by some excellent bowling first up. Goffy opened the bowling with a maiden to apply some much-needed pressure. This was then backed up by the returning Shakey (after 10 months out) taking a wicket with his first ball trapping the opener Tim LBW for a golden duck.

Goffy continued to apply pressure, clean bowling the other opener (Tom) for 1 in the 3rd over, and then taking the 3rd wicket in his third over (5th over of the innings) again clean bowling their number 4 Ryan for 4. At the other end, Eclipse’s number 3 – Lee – had started timing the ball nicely and by the first hydration break the score was 34-3 off 6 overs.

After 2 overs, Mark gave way to Greg who began to fire some pace down at the batters, keeping up the pressure on the scoring alongside Goff who finished his 4 over spell with another tight over. At 8 overs, Eclipse were 45-3 – an excellent start for the Casuals.

Iwan was introduced to the attack, and started with a leg side delivery dispatched to boundary with ease but managed to keep things relatively tight otherwise. Nadeem was also introduced to the attack and while he was getting some nice swing with the ball, the batters (Lee and Ali) had warmed up and had started to middle a few more. Iwan managed to get the ball in the right place a few times leading to a wicket from his penultimate delivery – getting Ali caught behind with a top edge, caught comfortable by a retreating Will. This brought Fari into bat for Eclipse. He should have been caught and bowled first ball (*ahem*) but Iwan only got a fingertip to the ball. Luckily the skipper was there to offer some encouragement and promptly pulled him out of the attack with the score on 74-4 after 12 overs.

During Nadeem’s next and final over, the batters were looking to get the job done and struck a few fours. One ball was middled quite well, but went straight to Patrick, who arguably struck it even better with his knee to belt the ball for 4…luckily no harm was done to his knee or the ball. Eclipse were 88-4 after the 13th at which point the final hydration break was taken.

Patrick was brought on to bowl, and gave the batters plenty to think about and was backed up well by another bowling change where Gareth was introduced to the attack. At the end of the 14th over, Eclipse were 100-4, with Lee having retired having struck 52 runs, to be replaced by Nils. Patrick came back to bowl his second over, but lost his line a bit, resulting in a few wides being conceded, effectively bowling his third over at the same time with 13 runs being scored which just took the last hopes of an unlikely win away. Gareth followed up with another tidy over, conceding 5, but leaving Eclipse on 118-4 – 2 overs to go and 1 run to win (or 6 wickets!).

Greg was re-introduced to the attack to try and achieve a miracle. Instead, and in true casual spirit, he jokingly said “Imagine if I finish this with a wide”…you’ll be able to guess what happened next. The ‘total eclipsed by the bat…’ Eclipse won by 6 wickets, reaching their target of 119 in 16.1 overs.

Goffy – 4-0-17-2
Shakey – 2-0-17-1
Greg P – 2.1-0-7-0
Iwan – 2-0-15-1
Nadders – 2-0-28-0
Patrick – 2-0-21-0
Gareth – 2-0-9-0

Tim – 0 (1) LBW, Bowled Shakey
Tom – 1 (9) Bowled Goffy
Lee – 52 (35) Retired
Ryan – 4 (3) Bowled Goffy
Ali – 20 (23) Caught Will, Bowled Iwan
Farhi – 12 (15), Not Out
Nils – 6 (8), Not Out
Extras (Good player) – 24

Total 119-4. 16.1 Overs.

Despite the heat, it was a very enjoyable game played with the right spirit – competitive but friendly – with the usual sprinkling of intra-team sledging from the casuals. The on-site bar was welcome to help ‘re-hydrate’ after the game, along with some bar snacks and picturesque views of the ground (except for the view Gareth was treated to from SteveO’s relaxed-fitting swim shorts while sat on his tall bar stool).
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