Bride Vale 22/09/19

With rain falling for most of the morning, Mike Moore took it upon himself to go and babysit his mother assuming the game would be cancelled.  Upon pitch inspection and analysis of the forecast, the game was on with a slightly delayed start of 2pm with 30 overs per side.  After electing to bat, there was just enough time for Tommy to get a second ball duck (no more talk of ‘no ducks for years’) before the rain came down and the players came off for 15 minutes undercover.  During this period the game was reduced to 25 overs per side.  David was now batting with Will and this seemed to drive him into attacking mode.  David (15) was unlucky to top edge a cut to the keeper in the 11th over to bring in Simon at 71-2.  Second ball was a straight drive for 4 and the scoring rate rarely dropped in this partnership.  The pitch was not easy for batting but both Simon and Will were hitting any bad balls hard and a long way!  Will was on 77 (10 fours, 3 sixes) and Simon 52 (4 fours, 4 sixes) when the next heavy rain shower arrived.  This one was particularly heavy, and tea was taken while the players were off the field.  The partnership between the pair was 89 from 8 overs to leave the score 159-2 from 19 overs when Simon declared the innings.

Mark took an early wicket when the batsman tried to charge him and missed one that seamed in.  He got a second soon after with a ball that seamed in and bounced – so much so that it landed on top of middle stump!  Zee was unlucky not to pick up a wicket with several edges going past where the slips may have been if there had been enough fielders.  David couldn’t get a breakthrough, but PW did manage some success.  Buffet was on and thought he had a wicket when a cut went to him at cover-point, but a diving Big Dog couldn’t hold on.  Next over, a similar event occurred from PW, but Dog was able to hold on this time!  Charging the slow bowlers on this pitch would only work if you make contact, and Simon took 2 simple stumpings from Tommy and PW.  The last wicket came off the last ball, which was middled to PW at short backward square leg.  The ball stuck in his hand superbly and his accurate throw gave Simon ample time to run out the last batsman for a 73-run victory.

MOM: PW for a remarkable bit of fielding.

Catch of the day: Big Dog (second time of asking!)

Quote of the day: “Make use of the Bride Vale shower” offer from the home team where the guttering was letting the water stream through.