Woodfalls 07/07/19

On a lovely day on the edge of the New Forest, the Wanderers were put into the field without Nipper, whose name was immortalised on this ground last year.  With 17 coming off the opening 4 overs, the Wanderers needed a breakthrough and it came from Ali.  Bowling just outside off stump using the slope and seam to take the ball away from the batsman, Simon could sense the frustration and saw it happening the over before.  On this occasion, an attempted drive went up over Simon at cover and he chased back taking a smart catch over his shoulder.  The next over from David brought a decisive intervention – a short delivery outside off stump looked to be going to the boundary but it was just in the reach of Tommy at point as he took a splendid catch over his head.  Ali was continuing to provide difficulty for the batsmen and Tommy, at slip, was providing the verbal diarrhoea!  41-2 from the opening 10 overs was a good return for the visitors.  Simon T (on debut) came on to provide some leg-spin and was extremely difficult to get away.  Tommy was providing an early buffet at the other end but in tandem the result was a first wicket for Simon when he bowled the man round his legs ‘Gatting’ style!  PW replaced Simon and the batsman asked him if he was alright as he was standing at the crease.  PW said he was bowling from there and the batsman said, “I’m not going to like this”.  And he was right.  PW hit the perfect line and length on more occasions than not and conceded only 1 wide in his spell.  It was this middle section of the innings that restricted the scoring significantly; David’s (2-33) second spell of 3 was 1-11.  Ali (2-32), having swapped ends, took 1-14 in his second spell and Simon (3-30) came back to close the innings with 2-16.  It was unfortunate that Ali dropped a hard catching chance at mid-wicket that resulted in a fractured finger that will keep him out of the game for a while.  It was an all-round good fielding performance with only 10 men that restricted the hosts to 184-9.

Mike Moore (2) was 1st out, caught going for a big shot in the 6th over with the score on 9.  Simon joined Tommy at the crease to start to build a partnership.  The speed between the wickets was crucial in keeping the scoreboard ticking over and allowing them time to wait for boundary balls.  Simon escaped when he was dropped at mid-on but never really looked back from that moment.  He hit a big six over mid-wicket to bring up his 50, a six that landed 2 feet from a pair of spectators that seemed oblivious to the danger.  Shortly afterwards, Simon hit a four in the same area that resulted in them leaving saying it was too dangerous!  Tommy started to catch up Simon and his 50 came shortly after the 100 partnership.  Simon (66) was caught in the gulley to break the 134-run partnership.  Hasan (on debut) hit some fine shots for 12 before he was caught.  Tim looked as though he’d never been away – striking the ball cleanly and with purpose in his 15 not out.  Tommy (65) was eventually bowled and Simon T (4) was bowled with only a few runs to get to bring Big Dog to the crease to strike the winning runs.

MOM: Simon and Tommy for the partnership share the award.

Catch of the day: Tommy in the covers

Quote of the day: From Simon to Tommy “Was your degree in bullshit?”