BELT @ Plush 27/08/16

By 11:30 the heavens opened with a huge thunderstorm lasting until 1 o’clock.  The rain was so heavy that the road became a river!  It was remarkable that the match got underway as scheduled at 2pm with a good looking pitch to play on.  Having won the toss, the Wanderers elected to bat and were soon in trouble;  David was bowled second ball – deceived by the late in swing.  Simon and Will set about restoring some order to proceedings and looked to capitalise whenever the bowling was loose.  Simon played a great straight drive for 6 off the very good quick opening bowler which seemed to be the catalyst for some more aggressive batting from him.  The second wicket partnership was worth 51 when Will (19) played a drive straight to mid-off.  Mike Moore was bowled by a good full length delivery and Mark couldn’t resist a full toss which he looped up to mid-on, both for no-score.  With only 8 players due to the ODI at Lords and some holidaying, partners were running out for Simon.  Mike Henry (1) shared a 28 run partnership while Simon started to hit lots of boundaries until he was trapped in front.  Mike Copp was playing in his first game for 9 years and looked a natural with the bat.  He played superbly hanging around with Simon for a 49 run partnership despite not getting off the mark!  Perhaps he was still recovering from running a 5 when he was bowled!  Max, the legend, was playing his annual game and was left high and dry when Simon played one too many big shots down the ground, and was caught and bowled for 99!  136 all out in 24 overs meant that there was time for a session before tea.

Mark and Will got the innings off with some quite brilliant bowling.  Will was finding some late in-swing which accounted for the opener first ball while Mark was proving impossible to get away – his first 4 overs were maidens!  Will’s second wicket was bizarre with the batsman trying to cut to third man he left it too late and only succeeded in cutting through his off-stump.  Two balls later Max took a good catch at mid-off for another wicket.  Not to be out-done, Mark took a wicket when a thick edge flew behind and was met by a diving right glove from Simon.  At tea, BELT were 22-4 and the Wanderers looked good.  Mike Copp and Max took over bowling duties after the interval and were looking good.  Mike took an important wicket with a deceptively slower ball that took out middle stump while Max was looking dangerous with his left arm in-swingers causing some discomfort.  With Simon standing up and some short fielders either side of the wicket, the field was pretty attacking as wickets were required.  With a few boundaries coming, David came on to try to create some more pressure.  Whilst economical, the batsman looked comfortable and Simon turned back to the opening pair to try to force an opening.  It eventually came – this time to Mark with an even quicker ball that threatened the structural integrity of the stumps!  Not content with this, he then had the free hitting batsman trapped in front LBW (although he protested he had hit it)!  Game on especially when Mark took his 4th of the innings, again bowled.  Will was not quite as accurate in this spell and his figures (14-2-42-3) reflected this.  Mark (16-6-28-4) was quite amazing and fully deserved the applause for his effort.  An all round good performance from the Wanderers despite losing by 2 wickets.  Special mention for the BELT fielders who helped out the Wanderers in the field.

MOM: Simon

Catch of the day: Simon