Cerne Valley 06/08/17

On a bright and breezy day the pitch looked in good condition given the rainfall in the week and on Saturday.  The Wanderers were put into bat and soon lost Will (2) bowled and Tommy (6) trying to cut past slip, gulley and point – only to pick out a good catch at point.  David was caught by an excellent catch at point to leave the Wanderers 21-3.  Simon was joined by Mike M fresh from his career highest last week (46 and then smashing his own stumps) and set about establishing a partnership.  Both opening bowlers bowled an unusaul line of attack bowling right-arm around to right handers.  With the outfield on the slow side, Mike had plenty of running to do between the wickets until Simon found his range, hitting 19 off one over from the leg-spinner.  Simon had an escape early on being dropped at mid-off but Mike (6) was out to a good catch with the partnership at 49.  Paul came in and was in fine form, dispatching the ball to all parts.  Simon was caught at mid-off just after reaching his 50 bringing Will to join his dad at the crease,  Will played intelligently and never gave any chances away.  They shared a stand of 40 before Paul (28) was bowled.  Alec (5) then joined his brother and things looked good until he was punished for not running the first run hard and then failed to make his ground on the second.  Luke (6no) added some useful runs to keep rotating the strike at the end of the innings but not quite enough for Will (23no) to eclipse his dad’s total.  A fine total of 175-7.

Mark and Will F opened the bowling and set the tone for the innings.  Mark with his skiddy quick deliveries had occasional ball getting additional bounce to keep the batsmen (and keeper) guessing.  Will was straight on the money and was unlucky to be hit for 6 off a thick edge by the man that Tommy had just dropped a simple catch at slip!  Tommy was relieved to see Mark trapping him LBW soon after with an exquisite delivery that shaped to leg before swinging to straighten beautifully.  Will (1-20) claimed his reward for a good spell when an edge was taken by Simon standing up.  Luke (1-9) was even more accurate with almost every delivery around the off-stump mark making it very difficult to score from.  Mark (2-15) had his second wicket with another pearl that took out middle and off.  Will S was just as accurate and with his additional hight also getting some lift.  He trapped the new batsman LBW with a delivery that turned like an leg-break to straiten after angling into his legs.  Alec (1-9) bowled beautifully and got his wicket with an edge that flew past Simon but grasped by Tommy.  He would have had another but Mark dropped a skier at mid-on.  Pete came on and did not disappoint on his favourite ground.  He bowled some accurate deliveries although there were some that permitted the batsmen to be aimed at Simon!  The flight was causing some difficulty and helped to claim the first wicket bowled and was entirely the cause of the second with the batsman charging down only to miss and leave a simple stumping for Simon.  He was unlucky to have had a very simple catch put down by Mark who was finding the ball was following him!  A very respectable 3-21.  Tommy took a wicket late on and the victory was sealed with Pete’s 3rd wicket to give an 82 run win.

MOM: Pete – a great spell of leg-spin

Catch of the day: Simon