Bride Vale 25/09/22

The fixture at Bride Vale to mark the end of the season is a constant in a changing world, alongside Mark pulling out the day before after another RTA.  Garry also couldn’t make it, so the Wanderers only had 9 men, but Bride Vale sportingly gave Brian to play for the Wanderers to make it 10-a-side.  Skipper won the toss in a time match and elected to field.  Stu and Brett took the new ball and bowled with accuracy.  Brett was generating considerable in-swing which did offer some runs when he was too straight, but when he started on the fifth stump line, he was a handful.  At both ends, a delivery just short of a length was proving difficult on a traditional Bride Vale pitch.  Brett got the early wicket with a delivery that swung in and then moved in off the seam to take middle stump.  There followed a strong batting partnership that was only broken by Ben when he too got the in-swing positioned perfectly on a length.  Good to see Ben in the action after his dislocated finger last week and this played a part when a catching chance went his way but had to go with the other hand and the chance eluded him.  Ben (2-30) got a second wicket when Ali took an assured catch.  Ali (1-18 off 8) was the pick of the bowlers, consistently hitting the zone of uncertainty where the ball was doing the most off the surface, while generating some away swing.  It was this uncertainty that had the batsman prod at a delivery, looping it to Simon at silly mid-off.  With Simon getting huge amounts of bounce and turn when he came on, batting was looking difficult.  When David (1-10) pitched a delivery full, it turned in beating the bat and hitting the pad in front.  Both Simon’s (2-24) wickets were catches.  One was a good take by Stu at slip and the other not recorded.  PW had 3 half chances in his 1st over but then the batsmen looked to get hold of him.  Stu (0-35) and Brett came back on to complete the innings, with Brett (2-34) getting a second wicket when a delivery didn’t bounce much and hit the pad in front of middle stump.  The Wanderers were unable to get the last pair out and the innings closed on 174-8.

After tea, Mike M and Ben set about a positive reply.  Conditions appeared to be favouring the ball and it was only the third over when Ben (11), who had middled a hook shot from in front of his face, was bowled by a delivery that kept low.  Brian (from Bride Vale) Joined Mike M (2) who was bowled next over to leave the Wanderers 15-2 and Skipper at the crease.  A promising start to the partnership was the form of quick singles between the pair, and some twos and threes from excessive over-throws.  Skipper then clattered a head-high full-toss almost out of the ground up the hill.  More was to come when the leg-spinner came on and skipper calmly drove him over long-off.  Brian continued to rotate the strike and occasionally hit over the top to the delight of the watching Wanderers.  Skipper was quick to latch onto anything short of a length and pull for four, and the over-pitched deliveries smashed away.  The partnership was worth 120 when Brian (35) was bowled.  Simon was not so keen on the running, and after running a single, Skipper turned and called for the second run (running to the danger end) with Simon rooted to the spot.  Skipper then shouted ‘yes’ to Simon inches away from him in the crease, with Simon jogging down to the other end and still making his ground.  Simon (7) was victim to a bit of lift and gifted a catch to short cover.  Stu (1) was LBW to one that moved in and kept low.  Ali (2 not out) saw it through with Skipper (86 not out) hitting 3 fours to win the game with 12 overs to spare.

MOM: Skipper

Catch of the day: Ali

Quote of the day: Brian to Skipper in between overs “I wish I could face this bowling every week!”