Bride Vale 27/09/20

With the last weekend of September came the last game of the Wanderers’ shortened 2020 season.  Thanks to Covid-19, only 11 of the 22 fixtures took place.  2 were lost to rain completely and 1 abandoned.  After a strange lunchtime session at the Spyway where it was impossible to work out what beer was on as no one could enter the bar, the Wanderers lost the toss – again.  This time the hosts invited the Wanderers to bat and Mike W and Tommy opened the innings in a 35 overs match.  After 5 overs, the score was 10-0 on a tricky wicket.  The next 5 overs saw a dramatic rise in the run rate with 28 coming from them, but the loss of Tommy, bowled in the 10^th over for 13 was a blow.  Simon T played with due caution and the understanding between the batsmen enabled the scoring rate to stay at nearly 4 an over.  Big Dog was bowled by one that kept low so Simon joined Simon T.  Simon (9) tried to place a delivery to third man only to find an athletic slip take a good catch.  Mike M was bowled without scoring and Shan (on debut) was run out by Simon T for 1.  At 74 for 5 after 20 over the Wanderers were in danger of being skittled out inside of the 35 overs and a partnership was needed.  Pete played with some attacking flair and survived a close LBW call before Simon T almost ran himself out when casually running in when a direct hit came in from the boundary.  Simon T (30) was eventually undone by another extraordinary low bounce that pinned him LBW in front of middle and off.  Ali was caught and Umair bowled, both for no score before Stuart (7) was LBW to one that hit high up but was always dropping onto the stumps.  It was great to see Mark playing again, but his batting has not improved, and he was tamely caught to finish the innings on 129 all out in 32.2 overs, with Pete not out 24.

Mark was at his best on a track that offered ample assistance to bowlers that bowled a full length.  Stuart was unlucky not to get the opening wicket when he had one bounce up and loft towards silly-mid-on.  The ball seemed to be in the air for an eternity, although Simon T only went for it as it was falling, and a dive did not counteract the initial inertia.  It was Mark who claimed the first wicket with a delivery that kept low and deceived the batsman.  He got his second wicket in his next over when Pete at wide slip took a lofted catch.  Pete was unlucky not to take a regulation slip catch when one went low to his left and he managed to get a full hand on it.  Mark’s third wicket came in his 4^th over; again bowled leaving him with 4-2-4-3.  Stuart (4-2-5-0) was unlucky to finish his spell wicketless.  Ali (7-1) bowled superbly and was deserving of the next wicket when he got some additional bounce and took the top of off-stump.  Shan (4-2-5-2) was causing all sorts of problems with pace and movement and deserved his 2 wickets; bowled and LBW.  Umair replaced Ali but struggled to keep the ball full enough on a wicket that allowed the batsmen to pick off short deliveries.  Tommy (10-3) didn’t serve up a buffet but didn’t use the grass until the second over of his spell – by which point he already had 2 wickets; one caught by Ali on 45^o and the second bowled playing back to a full toss.  Simon T came into the attack and was ripping the ball both ways with such amounts that the umpire felt obliged to give some wide!  The final wicket was off Snow-White when a cover drive was nearly caught by Mike M – it went through his hands onto his chin and then caught in his arm and chest!  A DWCC victory by 66 runs.

MOM: Mark – ripping out the top 3 batsmen made the difference.

Catch of the day: No contest – Mike M with his chin.

Quote of the day: From Pete “ I feel like I’m getting to know Snow-White now”