Kilmington and Stourton 18/09/21

Pete opened the attack after the Wanderers were asked to field first, and did a good job on a hard and true wicket.  His opening partner, David, got a wicket in his first over when a short-of-a-length ball was cut upwards to Tom at wide gulley who took a secure catch.  David removed the other opener in his next over when Big Dog took a superb catch behind the stumps.  Pete joined in the wicket taking next over when he too saw a cut go towards the hands of Tom at gulley.  With the home side reduced to 13-3 and still only in the 5th over, it was an impressive start for the Wanderers.  A partnership then developed for K&S that not only solidified the innings but accelerated the scoring.  By now Simon was bowling from the pavilion end with Garry (on debut) at the other.  It was Simon who broke the partnership, now worth 66 in 11 overs, when Garry took a smart catch at mid-off.  Ben was attacking the leg stump with in-swingers from left arm over, and the Skipper set a trap at deep backward square leg that the batsman obliged to fall into next ball.  Garry took the wicket of the new batsman next over and Ben got just rewards for his good bowling with a second, this time bowled.  By this stage Big Dog was struggling with an eye-lid that appeared to be closing so Mike M came on and Skipper went behind the stumps.  Simon came back into the attack and claimed a second wicket before Conrad got the top man with a perfectly weighted delivery that brought him forward leaving Skipper to take the stumping.  The last wicket partnership added a useful 20 before the last man in attempted a second run before diving for the line, badly injuring himself, and was well out.  183 all out in 32 overs was a good performance for the Wanderers.

After a tea from Simon, David opened the innings with Mike M.  The start was slow – very slow, despite David driving over mid-off for four in the second over.  When David (7) was out caught behind the score was 16-1 from 9 overs.  Mike M (15) went to wind up a helicopter shot but, for the second time in his DWCC career, he clattered the stumps from behind with his bat!  Garry (12) played some great back foot drives through the covers before getting one that came in and kept low.  Tom (28) was striking the ball cleanly before he departed LBW to leave the Wanderers 97-4 from 22 overs.  When Conrad (22) was caught to bring Skipper to join Simon, the Wanderers needed 77 from the last 10 overs, 5 wickets down.  Skipper quickly got into his stride (metaphorically speaking as Conrad was running for him) and was soon dispatching the ball all around the ground.  With the introduction of the quick bowlers, Skipper used the pace to guide the ball to the ropes.  However, a good length ball was just good enough to get the outside edge dismissing Skipper for 37.  Simon (6) got frustrated and tried too hard giving a simple catch.  With Ben falling LBW first ball it seemed as if hope was dwindling.  However, Pete and Bob saw it differently, putting on 31 in the last 5 overs – in the end just 10 runs short.  A super game in a wonderful setting played in great spirit by both teams.

MOM: Skipper – almost dragged the team to the finish line.

Catch of the day: Big Dog