BELT @ Little Bredy

After switching days and then venues the match took place at Little Bredy thanks to the support from Bride Vale on a delightful early summer’s day despite the heavy overnight rain.  With no boundary markers the boundary was the cut grass which meant that the boundary was very long and in some places not reachable!  The Wanderers put the visitors into bat, unsure of the early season wicket.  Mark’s opening spell (10-1-19-1) was superb; difficult to get away and attacking.  Luke was also bowling well although the batsmen were intelligently moving the strike whenever possible.  Simon was replaced behind the stumps by Fred (having recovered from Stourhead last season) due to a finger injury from last week.  David was equally difficult to get away and the breakthrough came from some brilliantly sharp fielding from Mark with a direct hit for a run out.  David had the incoming batsman LBW with a ferocious appeal!  Mark had his reward in his last over with a wicket before Simon came on to bowl, taking a wicket in the first over with one that swung away late and then a second with a sharp c&b.  Adam (on debut) was very tricky to score from and only conceded 8 runs from his 4 overs.  Bob took a wicket with his first delivery and then enticed the next batsman to hit round the corner to square leg where Luke held a good catch.  The same delivery failed to complete the hatrick!  Next over Bob was hit to the fence for 4 and then into the next field before claiming his third wicket (3-0-22-3).  Pete was unlucky not to get a wicket and Mike T came on as the 8th bowler.  Simon came back at the end but injured his side leaving the last over to be expertly bowled out by Mark.  BELT finished on the Nelson; 111-9.

Tea was provided by Simon’s mum with expert cakes from Sarah.

David and Adam set about the runs in contrasting styles.  Adam (11) seemed intent on attacking every ball, hitting a boundary over extra-cover!  He was caught to bring Fred in.  David (4) made way for Simon (8) and the parnership seemed to working well despite Simon’s difficulty in running.  43 together was making it look alot easier than it was and when Simon played on it looked tricky again.  Mike Moore (14) played well but once Fred was caught for 39 with 38 still required the task seemed to get alot more difficult, despite 16 overs remaining.  Luke, Mike H, Mike T and Mike M were all bowled fairly quickly to leave Pete and Bob to try to see the game out for the last 3 overs.  Unfortunately, Bob got a taste of his own medicine when the spinner tossed one up into the bright evening sunshine which then dipped and hit Bob on the pads in front to clinch the game for BELT by 13 runs.

MOM: Fred

Catch of the day: Simon c&b