Match Report vs Chepstow 02th August 2026 @ Chepstow(Skipper Steveo, report Andy 'Shaneo' Munn)

This was a most exciting and enjoyable afternoon for both sides. A week in which the reputation of club cricket in the UK has been dragged down by the man clicking his fingers in the field to simulate an edge sound so 'Cluck: Phro Wicket Best’, though sounding a bit like a left handed leg break bowling Chinaman with improving English, seems like the perfect anagram for ‘Chepstow Cricket Club’. An all-Welsh encounter with hardly a Welsh accent to be heard anywhere.

Chepstow won the toss and batted first, we got to see the first of the Chitnis brothers who between them scored 60% of Chepstow’s runs at a strike rate above 130. These lads, though slight of build, possessed excellent technique and timing, and were a pleasure to watch, even if they sent us scurrying around the superfast yellow outfield into the danger area where Archers were practising. Matt Davies emerged from one sojourn to the Archers’ boundary lucky to survive with his exotic hairstyle intact. Fortunately, there was a non-Chitnis batter at the other end giving us a sporting chance, and Andy Munn (8-0-49-2) began the parade of wickets when he castled Ted Rule and skipper Tom Absolom at 2 and 3, while he played in blue shorts.

Paul Stephens sometimes known as 'Pablo Estefanio' (8-2-39-1) was more controlled from the other end and gained the wicket of Ryan Hoare, who had batted doggedly, while Ryan departed the field he was feeling he had not made contact bat to ball, though happily there was no ill-feeling. Tate was removed by Steffan Munn (4-1-26-1) taking his very first wicket for the club, an absolutely superbly judged over-the-shoulder catch from Will Mason-Wilkes. Hasnat Ahmed was marvellous in the field, racing around to defend deep areas, firing in accurate and powerful long throws, easily saving us 10 runs - more to follow, Has fans….

Iwan Jones (5-0-23-1) weighed in with the wicket of Miles Hebborn while Matt Davies (4-2-14-2) had an excellent strike-rate removing Finn Hillman and Kylan Hooper. Next Ed Stagg (4.1-0-29-2) removed James King, who may have consumed between 4 and 5 pints of beer during the course of his playing duties and then the talented Bruno Chitnis who had decided in the spirit of adventure to change to batting left-handed. Ed saw straight through this ploy and made sure the experiment lasted just one ball. Young Jack Hogan making his Chepstow Sunday debut reached a dashing and enjoyable to watch 25 before getting run out by our superb fielder, yes, you guessed it, Hasnat.

Steve O’Reilly bowled but was more noticeable in the innings for his brave fielding in the ring, his interceptions stung his hands for sure but saved us almost as many runs as Hasnat.

Now the Casuals have a strong set of openers who reliably compile a good total for the first wicket, softening the ball for later players and today was no exception: Hasnat (32 from 40 balls in 54 mins) and Ed Stewart (50 not out from 42 balls in 52 mins) put on 92 for the first wicket before Ed got cheesed off and departed unbeaten, alas Hasnat fell almost as soon as his partner had departed, bringing Will and Steffan to the crease in a double change. Steffan (2 from 4 balls in 3 mins) went for his shots but alas his creativity in shot placement was matched by the precision field placings of the captain-bowler and he soon departed. Will (27 from 39 balls in 49 mins) was next out, caught by a Chitnis, followed by Ed Stagg (2 from 10 balls in 9 mins). Next out was skipper Steve (40 from 44 balls in 67 mins) who provided big hitting aerial drives that sent fielders scurrying in such a way that the ball always got to the ground before a Chepstow hand could intervene. So they used the old fashioned method and bowled him. By now the final wicket had fallen and with the score at 173-5, the bulk of the work having been done.

For the final act in the play, enter Iwan Jones (15 not out from 36 balls in 36 mins) and James Barber (29 not out from 17 balls in 22 mins, batting lower than he expected). Captain Steve had saved his ‘stoppers’ among the hand he held, and now played these to devastating effect to ensure the castellated ramparts of the Chepstow efforts crumbled like the retaining wall of some kind of Gwaelod-y-Garth underground quarry reservoir. James excelled in today’s role as a completer-finisher and the pair put on an unbeaten 42 in just 22 minutes that brought Casuals over the line. Really well done everyone.

What went well - Casuals kept their coherence when fielding, prevented any Chepstow partnership from reaching 50 and kept their nerve when chasing, the lemon squash was on point - a genuinely viable second option to the blackcurrant - not too sweet, just about the perfect isotonic strength, as ever Casuals a sociable and courteous opposition that end up invited back to every club to go again next year, it was hot with the hard earth reflecting the sun’s warmth nicely but not causing a sweat. Absolutely no spectators watched The Hundred on the television in the bar - they all wanted to see the real spectacle of sophisticated capital city folk travelling in to pit their wits against the local bordermen.

What could have gone better - a series of vape clouds drifting across to the score box from the balcony, each one even worse than the one before, Fry’s Turkish Delight is my chocolate of last resort and the strange mauve gas was making its way to the scorers’ nostrils as if the scorers were some kind of cricket cleric versions of the Bisto kids, I would have liked the wind to have blown the strange chemical essences the other way. I really need to pack playing trousers and avoid wearing the blue shorts showing my knee support as I am embarrassed by my arthritis. We could have had two drinks breaks.

What is the most important thing we need to do better next time - we need to make sure Casuals players get exclusive use of one lane of the M4 when heading to Monmouthshire. We can just about let the hoi palloi block the much-maligned Brynglas tunnels but one lane of the remaining stretch eastbound needs to be set aside solely for CCCC on match days, for a period not exceeding 90 minutes before the toss.

Father and son really enjoyed representing Casuals together for the first time.

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