Match Report vs Barry
West End 12th July 2026 @ Barrys Island(Skipper Steveo,
report Paul)
Date – 12th July 2026
Venue – Barry Island
Conditions – Hot, breezy (thank God), not as bad as
we feared
Casuals assemble, not as impressive as avengers as will become
clear to play Barry West End for the second time this season
looking for a season sweep after our edgy crawl over the line
earlier on in the year. I witnessed that from the sidelines
waiting for my second eye op.
I will not go much into the cricket, as but for a few exceptions
not much good happed for us and allot of good happened for
them but there were a few interesting circumstances as the
day went on.
First was the toss, the greatest tosser we have ever had
went out with their usual skipper to flip the 50p, a few of
us Casuals were also out there looking at the pitch pretending
to know what we were looking at. As usual, if it's hot you
win the toss and bat first. The tosser knew this and lost
the toss, none of us were privy to the conversations between
the tosser and their skipper as would become apparent now
and later in the game.
As we were wandering back to the shed’s we were informed
the toss was lost and we were batting, all of us thought this
was strange, but this is what their skip said so off we trotted
get padded up or get the clickers for umpiring or sit down
for a few ours depending on the batting order.
When we got back in the changing room the tosser informed
us their skip was joking and we were fielding! The batters
started taking their pads off, the rest of us thought about
getting the whites on and a glorious interaction started trying
to figure out if this was a misunderstanding, maybe a piss
take, maybe incompetence (this one was favourite) and Goffy
dispatched himself outside to see what the oppo were doing
trying to find out what the fuck was going on, many insults,
accusations, expletives and theories of evil doing were discussed
by the Casual’s present as this was going on.
It turns out we were batting, we had lost the toss and the
opposition skip had lost his mind or knew he had a side that
could handle whatever we did easily (again, this was favourite)
so Jim and Liam trooped out to begin the game with Goffy and
I umpiring.
They bowled well, mainly straight, and there were few opportunities
to score, I did have to wide Tommy 3 times which is worth
noting, Jim was first to go after hitting a four for 8 in
the 10th over, the score was 26. Will entered next, scoring
an undefeated hundred with 14 fours and two sixes, a great
innings, taking advantage of some buffet bowling provided
by the West End I think to make a game of it nearer the end
of his innings.
This brings up another bone of contention; West End were
under the impression that everyone who got there would retire
at 50, we have never done this so this was surprising to us
and there was apparently some consternation out in the middle
about the circumstances surrounding the non-retirement of
Will, we haven’t got many who you could expect to get
to 50, they as would become apparent, had quite a few.
So, the rest of us were as follows:
Liam played a good knock of 23 with 5 fours, one great straight
drive before being caught at point.
Gregg stuck around for 16 with Will with two fours before
being caught for 16.
Steffan Munn, on debut, was next in scoring a lovely 4 but
leaving to a leading edge caught for that 4.
Steve, stuck around with Will for a 67-run partnership scoring
25 with three fours before being bowled (I know).
Benny was in next, scoring 8 before being run out, with 1
four which was a gorgeous cover drive.
This left the grinch, Matt Davies, and Robb to score 7 and
13 not out respectively to conclude our innings for 223 after
40 overs, Goffy and I did not bat.
Food and drink time was next, out came the sarnies and a
rather disappointing coffee for coffee club before we took
to the field.
The skipper went for a swim and a burger which he was forced
to take onto the field otherwise we would still be playing,
leaving us to sort the field out while he munched away on
at 3rd man / fine leg.
It became apparent quite quickly that our bowling resources
were a bit thin on the ground, and I am not just talking about
Goffy who looks more and more like Sharon Osbourne by the
day, he has moved on from the jabs to the pills now he said.
Goffy and I opened the bowling, he is a proper opening bowler,
I am not and we opened against two youngsters that I didn’t
recognise, they were quite tasty to say the least, I bowled
my usual rubbish and managed to strangle the less talented
opener for 13 caught very well at extra cover by Benny off
a short wide one that should be still travelling to be honest.
I ended up with 8 overs 1 for 32, having improved throughout
the final overs, neither Goff nor I bowled our 8 straight
through, more of which later.
The other opener looked a class player; he ended up being
bowled by Goffy for 64 in his second spell. Rob bowled 4 overs
before coming back on a bit later very frugally alongside
the Grinch not so frugally going for 30 off his 3 overs, Steve
bowled an over for 12.
We had a drinks break at 15 overs where it was discovered
that Steve was trying to spread the bowling about as they
did but they had their usual 15 player rotation and some very
good bowling options that they ended up not using to set a
decent total for them to chase, it was then decided as we
were limited with our options that Goff and I would come back
on before too long.
Meanwhile Benny came on to bowl and got their number three
caught at fine leg by me for a well-made 38. This made them
123 for 2 at the 20th over, a 110 partnership.
This brought an old stager on at four for them playing cautiously
at the start before getting going just as Goff got their opener
to miss a full toss/yorker in his second spell for the 64
I mentioned earlier.
This brought the skipper in, and he smashed Greg for 28 off
his 2 overs, Steffan was persuaded to bowl 2 overs for 17,
Liam 1 over for 8 and Will, 4 balls for 4 runs to finish the
game.
The old stager started smacking people all over the place
and the skipper smashed everyone on his arrival. Number 4
made 40 not out and the skip ended up with a very quick 38
not out chasing down 223 in the 33rd over
G Day 8 overs 1 for 43
P Stephens 8 overs 1 for 32
Rob 6 overs 0 for 17 (I thought you bowled out Rob, but the
scorebook says not)
Grinch 3 overs for 30
Steve 1 over for 12
Benny 4 overs 1 for 25
Greg 2 overs for 28
Steffan 2 overs for 17
Liam 1 over for 8
Will 4 balls for 4
There really isn’t much to comment on in our bowling
innings, I can’t think of many if any dropped catches,
we fielded ok if not brilliantly, except for me, I can’t
move very well these days.
Off to the West End club for more sandwiches and a drink
or two, some of which were consumed outside in a nice breeze.
It wasn’t a dreadful day in the end despite the stuffing.
Club ugly Hawaiian shirts may be in the pipeline or not depending
on if anyone can be arsed.
If there are any omissions or disagreements about what I
have reported please feel free to correct, it’s been
a week and the mind isn’t as sharp as it was.
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