BELT at Plush 12/5/18

With Mike Moore only available as a scorer before his trip to see a “physio” on Monday and Bob still poorly yet gardening, the Wanderers were short and needed Adam’s son Elliot and then Mark to arrive after work to make up to 10 men.  Having won the toss DWCC elected to bat to get full use out of Mark.  The Wanderers were soon 0-1 when Adam tried to hit a straight ball out of the ground over mid-wicket and missed.  Simon and David consoladated and Simon (18) hit the opening bowler for a big straight 6 before being caught trying to hit a leg-side full-toss for 6 and top edging.  Some stability was needed but Luke also was looking to hit the straight ball into the next field!  Anwar (27) hit some big drives to square leg until he was caught hitting in the same fashion.  Elliot and Paul were both caught on no-balls.  Paul gave Elliot a masterclass in batting: “if it’s off your stumps either hit it or leave it”.  Paul (15) hit a super 6 over cow-corner before he was bowled.  Mike Henry (11) and PW (3no) hung around long enough for Mark to arrive, with Mike getting off the mark with a great pull for 4 just in fromt of square.  Mark (13) hit a few lusty blows before running himself out with an over still to play!  With no tea ladies around this week, Simon and Carol prepared tea and were expecting Mark to bring the cake that Sarah kindly made for everyone; except he left it behind!

With only 116 on the board, the Wanderers would have to play really well to force a victory.  Mark and Anwar took the new ball and bowled 20 overs uniterrupted until the drinks break at the last hour.  Scoreboard pressure was the only way the Wanderers were able to bring themselves into play and this was exactly what happened with Mark bowling a quite brilliant spell of 10 overs for 11 runs.  After drinks, David (3-10) and Paul (2-24) came on and reaped the reward for the pressure by taking 5 wickets in 7 overs between them.  Anwar took a crucial catch and everyone in the field played their part in keeping the pressure on BELT.  A great opportunity for a run out came and went with Mike all set to throw into Simon at the stumps end for a simple run out only for the throw to end up going behind Mike!  Pete struggled to find a good line and length and Mark came back for an over without success.   David (2-17) came back for another spell and it fell to him to bowl out the last over, with BELT requiring 2 runs with 3 wickets in hand.  After a single on the first ball, a brilliant next ball had the batsman playing all round it in an effort to force a single and the off stump was removed.  The incoming batsman was in the same predicament and was also bowled – first ball.  With 3 balls left, 1 wicket left, the scores were level.  Hatrick ball was fended away as was the next ball leaving 1 for BELT to win , a wicket for a tie or a dot ball for a draw off the last ball.  Unfortunately it was a leg side long hop that was dispatched to the boundary but take nothing away from David (5-27) – this was a masterclass in pressure bowling following up the great opening spell from Mark.

MOM: David – 20 with the bat and 5-27

Catch of the day: Anwar – all the other wickets were bowled.

Quote of the day: Paul – “if it’s off your stumps either hit it or leave it”