Buckhorn Weston 06/06/21

The Wanderers elected to bat at Buckhorn Weston while the sun was shining.  After David was caught behind third ball, Skipper joined Tommy with the intent to get a partnership.  After a promising start with some good running between the wickets, Simon (14) was caught at long-on from a diving catch that led the crowd wondering if it had been grounded.  Tommy (17) continued to look assured with Hassan until he was bowled following the bowling change. Hassan was bowled next over leaving Big Dog and Ali at the crease with the score on 40-4 from 12 overs.  Big Dog survived a big LBW shout but Ali (9) was not so lucky when he was trapped on the back foot.  Big Dog was adjudged LBW shortly afterwards although there may have been a thin edge.  At 61-6, scoring 3 figures looked optimistic, but Stuart and Mike H put together the highest stand of the innings with solid defensive work and quick running when required.  Stuart (13) got one that kept low to dismiss him, but Mike M came in and hit with his usual style.  Mike H (5) was eventually well caught but had racked up the runs in extras in the time at the crease.  Brett (on debut) was caught for 1 and Umair added a few in the last overs to leave the Wanderers 115-9 from the 40 overs.

After a self-made tea interval, Brett and Ali took the new ball.  Brett, bowling left arm over the wicket, was bowling in-swingers to the right-handed batsmen.  The opener was bowled second ball and the next went 3rd ball to leave Brett with a double-wicket maiden for his first over.  Ali struck in his first over when the batsman clipped an inside edge low to Simon behind the stumps.  At 0-3 this was as impressive a start that the Wanderers had ever had in an innings!  Brett had a huge appeal for an LBW turned down that had a big bearing on the game, with a 4th wicket partnership developing.  A sharp chance fell just short of David, and Mike M had a half chance just out of reach over his head.  Simon took a bizarre stumping when the batsman kept his pose after missing the ball – with his foot on the line, only for it not to be given.  At 82-4 at the 20 overs drinks interval the writing appeared to be on the wall.  However, Stuart got the all important breakthrough when a straight drive went high into the Dorset sky, only for it to come down directly into David’s hands at long-off.  The other batsman followed soon after LBW, this time given, although he appeared to suggest it got an edge.  With Brett coming back, his first 2 balls failed to swing as he delivered cross seam.  However, his third delivery completely bamboozled the batsman with middle stump destroyed.  The new batsman played on from what would have been a wide.  Tommy got in on the wicket taking when the dangerous left-hander top edged and Simon ran from behind the stumps to take a diving catch and then a simple flighted ball claimed the final wicket.  The last 6 wickets had fallen for 5 runs.

MOM: Brett (5-14) on debut

Catch of the day: David for the complete ease of taking such a high catch under pressure.

Quote of the day: David “That was a great catch Simon but wont knock me off the catch of the day spot!”