Fonthill Park 05/09/20

Having won the toss on a damp pitch, Mike M and Will made slow progress.  When Mike (5) was bowled the Wanderers were 14-1 from 9 overs in a 35 overs game.  Tommy managed to inject some scoreboard momentum with some fast running between the wickets but never looked to repeat the momentous occasion of hitting a ‘six’ on this ground some years ago (when it landed 3 yards short of the line).  Will was caught at mid-wicket 1 short of a 50 which brought Simon to join Tommy with the score a respectable 97-2 from 22.  Simon (4) was out with a top edged cut so Tom came in to hit some boundaries.  Tommy (41) was caught and Tom (23) holed out to square leg to leave Simon T to marshal the tail.  In an attempt to take a quick second run, Mike H raced through and pulled a muscle in his thigh.  After some lengthy first aid, he was able to leave the field and sit under a tree for the rest of the innings.  Simon (9) was stumped trying to force the pace of a good delivery, but Bob (7) managed a few big shots before he was caught.  David and PW kept the innings alive through the final over to see a score of 160-8 posted.

The return innings had barely begun before David took the opening wicket with a catch from Simon.  Simon also had the new ball and runs were difficult to come by.  Tommy was keeping as Simon was needed to bowl.  The concentration in the field was great given that the Wanderers were reduced to 10 men due to Mike’s injury.  PW’s first wicket was a stunning diving forwards catch by Tom at mid-on.  Tom then took 2 catches off Simon at mid-off – one a rocket – off the 2 worst balls Simon (2-12) bowled in his spell!  Tommy took a great catch off the edge down leg-side off Simon only for it to be adjudged to be off the pad!  Tommy took a stumping off PW (2-60) before Simon T took the high scoring left hander with one that straightened up the hill and took the top of off stump.  He then took a c&b and another bowled.  By now the Wanderers’ 5th ‘bowler’ was serving up his buffet, with the new batsman taking a great liking to him.  His 54 not out included 31 runs off Tommy (0-43 off 5) although he was dropped twice, a high one that went to Mike M who did well to get underneath it and a thick edge that flew past Simon (keeping).  Will took a low catch off the returning David (2-19) to set up a close finish.  Tommy had 1 ball at the number 11 and tossed it up turning into the batsman with the hill, who shouldered arms with the ball almost certainly going onto the stumps – he was given not out as it hit outside the line!  The runs were got next over and a close game ended in defeat.

MOM: A great team performance but Tom’s 3 catches kept the Wanderers in the hunt.

Catch of the day: Tom off PW