Bride Vale 30/06/19

Even with the temperature dropping by 10 degrees from the previous day, it was a warm afternoon in Little Bredy.  Having won the toss, the Wanderers elected to bat on a typical Bride Vale wicket – lots of variation in bounce.  Big Dog and Simon started steadily with 9 from the opening 6 overs before Simon hit a straight drive for 6 followed by a another for 4.  The run rate continued to build until Simon (38) was bowled in the 15th over with the score on 60.  David (2) was unlucky to get a faint touch on one down the leg side to bring in Ali to continue his fine form with shots to all parts of the ground.  Dog (29) was caught in the 29th over with 103 on the board.  Zee was playing some colourful shots before Ali (33) went forward and was stumped by a throw from the keeper who was a couple of yards back.  Nipper had a brief innings of 9 boundaries – losing the match ball in the field of corn – before he retired to bring in Nick Jones.  When Zee (24) was bowled by a delivery that failed to bounce, Nick’s son Oliver made his debut for the Wanderers.  Ball 1 was a slow delivery that rose off a length but played out well by Oliver who soon became the boss in the partnership, sending his dad back on several occasions when a run out seemed likely.  Nick (8) was bowled by another low delivery to bring in Tony – Oliver’s granddad.  Oliver (5) was out in the last over before tea to bring about the declaration, much to the annoyance of Mike M who was ready for his cameo.  214-8 was an excellent return.

After a super tea prepared by Simon’s parents, Ali opened the attack from the pavilion end.  He was impossible to play against and created all sorts of problems for the batsmen.  His match figures (10-7-7-2) told the story of how he was hitting the same difficult areas time and time again giving the batsmen very little opportunity to score while carrying a threat to take wickets.  It was Luke who struck first in the second over with the score on 3.  five of the next six overs were maidens and this set the tone for the innings.  Ali struck with an LBW on the back pad in front of the stumps with a ball that kept low.  Batsman 3 had 54 dot balls between his first and last single before he too was LBW, this time to Nick.  Nick’s second wicket was a catch behind by Nipper who had a few tricky chances come his way that Dog loved to point out weren’t taken!  It took Zee an over (that cost 13) to get into the groove, but the remaining 7 overs went for 20 and he always looked like getting a wicket (he took 2).  His first was a great catch at point by Tony who had just attempted a catch off nick when a bullet was fired over his head!  Oliver had an impressive first spell of leg spin and despite conceding some runs, managed to cause some difficulties on a good length ball.  With time fast running out Simon came on and thought he had the winning wicket with a faster delivery that cut back but somehow jumped over middle and leg!  A draw was the result.

MOM: Ali

Catch of the day: Tony

Quote of the day: Nipper after dropping an edge that had clearly hit wood: “didn’t that come off his thigh pad”