Cerne Valley 07/08/16

On a sunny yet blustery day at Cerne Abbas, the home team elected to bat.  Will (0-28) bowled really well and deserved a wicket – nearly getting one with Simon almost holding onto one dying in-front of first slip.  Pete was the other opening bowler and he took a wicket with his second ball.  On ball one down leg side, the batsman turned and hit straight behind him into Simon’s delicate region!  As he shaped up to do the same next ball, Simon stood back a few paces and held onto the catch this time!  Pete could have had more but took a bit of stick in the second half of his spell.  By the time Mark came on the Wanderers had 3 slips and a gulley and they were nearly into the action again when an edge went down despite Simon diving for it.  With David in fine form at one end, once the captain had worked which end would be best, Mark was provided with a key wicket when a full length delivery hit middle and off with the batsman playing to leg.  The pressure was paying off.  David was not only difficult to get away but attacking the wickets with 3 bowled and a somewhat suspect LBW in his 4-25.  Anwaar provided his usual mix of leg spin and quicker deliveries (not always communicating this to the keeper!) in his 1-26.  Cerne managed a creditable 194-8 in the 40 overs.

Simon opened the batting with Will who was desperately unlucky to allow a defensive shot to trickle back and bump into leg stump, just hard enough to dislodge one bail.  Anwaar came to the crease to build a badly needed partnership in some difficult conditions.  Whilst the pitch was benign in bounce, some were keeping horribly low.  Simon survived a couple of sharp chances in slip before going onto play a destructive innings.  One further chance was offered but the fielder could only catch it the wrong side of the boundary!  The partnership was worth 160 when Simon played a tired shot and was bowled for 71.  Anwaar followed soon after for 56.  Tom and Bob were able to see the Wanderers across the line for a 7 wicket wine inside 30 overs.

MOM: Simon

Catch of the day: Simon off Mark