BELT @ Hazelbury Bryan 24/07/22

With an ambitious start time of 11am, the ‘all day’ game got underway at 11:25, with Mike M clattering the second delivery to the boundary after Skipper elected to bat first.  Simon cut 2 fours in the next over to strike a positive start.  It was in the 7th over when Simon attempted to pull the in-swinging bowler coming down the hill, only for the ball to rush onto him and ended up offering a simple catch to square-leg (32-1 from 7).    By now the bowlers had found a brilliant line and length with spin from the playground end and in-swing from the cottage end.  Skipper came in and scored just 13 runs from his first 50 deliveries, but survival was the key at this stage.  Mike was playing the ball on merit and his 32 runs from 78 deliveries were valuable.  Leo played some cracking shots during his innings and did well to keep up the running between the wickets.  By now skipper was into his stride, scoring on nearly every ball.  The lunch interval in the Antelope was a drawn out affair with a shortage of bar staff, beer needing to be changed and the food coming out in small portions (Tommy?).  However, it was good and eventually plentiful.

Leo (9) was unlucky in that he didn’t regain his focus, caught simply second ball back after lunch, but the partnership was worth 74.  Jon joined Skipper and was quickly into his stride.  It was a straight drive against the wind that was well caught just in front of the line that dismissed Skipper on 98 (85 runs from 48 deliveries) with a 100 strike rate.  However, with the total 190-4 and the Webley brothers together again anything appeared possible.  Tom (23) did not look settled at the crease and was disappointed to be out, but a 59 run partnership had the Wanderers well set.  Foz cut straight to point without score so Bob joined Jon for the final few overs.  A glorious straight drive from Bob was roared on and Jon, knowing Skipper was going to declare at the end of the 49th over, hit 17 from it to leave him 67 not out and Bob 4 not out.  272-6

Stu and Foz applied pressure to the opening batsmen, with only 23 runs from the opening 10 overs.  Jon took over on the cottage end and looked threatening from the start (after his customary full-toss first ball!), although Simon was more expensive when he replaced Foz, with the batsmen taking a liking to his leg-spin.  Jon was unlucky when Skipper couldn’t hold onto an edge and Foz attempted a one-handed catch at slip moments later.  It was Jon who made the breakthrough, swinging it in between bat and pad to make the score 75-1.  3 balls later he got the new batsman trapped back in front of off-stump for a clear LBW.  The dangerous Saxby came in and looked in control and the pair started to accumulate runs together.  However, when Jon (3-41) managed to squeeze it through off the bat onto the stumps, the Wanderers sensed that the tide may be turning (122-3).  The new batsman was unlucky to drag the ball onto his stumps off the new bowler, Leo (2-28).  A much better dismissal came 2 balls later when an attempted drive picked out Tom.  PW made an instant impact when Simon took a catch at cover (136-6 with the last 20 starting).  Simon came on to try to spin the tail out, but the tail was more than capable of wagging.  Stu (0-33) tried to force a breakthrough without any luck.  Foz (1-59) accepted the challenge of bowling downhill and he was the only man on the pitch who did not see the centurion batsman walk after edging through to Skipper behind the stumps.  He just stood in front of the umpire pleading with him!  The Wanderers sensed victory with BELT 228-8 with 6 overs left (7.5 runs/over).  The visitors had other ideas and Foz’s last over went for 22, with a six over the cottage behind the bowler.  A remarkable run chase to win by 2 wickets with 2 overs to spare.

MOM: Skipper – held the innings together

Catch of the day: Skipper off Foz to remove the dangerous batsman

Quote of the day: BELT “We can’t believe it so I’m sure you can’t”