Bride Vale 01/09/19

On a splendid autumnal day, Bride Vale elected to bat but lost a wicket in the first over when Ali had Dean trapped LBW in front of the stumps.  Luke took a wicket next over when Dane took a catch at mid-off, only to be bettered when he repeated the feat on a much more difficult chance.  Conrad only managed 2 overs before a calf injury ended his bowling involvement, but not before he managed to get an LBW in his favour.  By this time the hosts were accumulating runs at an alarming rate, partly due to the poor bowling but in the most part due to the dreadful fielding.  PW had a brief spell before he was replaced by Simon who managed to get a few to beat the bat but still conceded too many runs.  Eventually Simon managed to get a quicker one to leave the batsman who edged through to Big Dog behind the stumps.  At the other end, Ali and Luke were interchanging with Ali putting in a long spell over the innings, bowling 15 overs for his 2-45.  PW (2-41) came back on and struck soon with a full delivery that the batsman tried to go back to and missed when it turned.  His second wicket was a cracking catch at cover by Mike H when the batsman cut a short delivery off the middle of the bat straight to Mike who held on magnificently.  Simon (3-31) came on and finished the innings off with 2 quicker deliveries that rattled the stumps to leave him on a hattrick next time out.  164 all out was an enormous score for the pitch and the worst ground fielding performance of the season.

Mike M (5) clubbed a four straight back over the bowler in the first over but was out next over when he was caught trying to repeat the feat.  Conrad (5) played down the wrong line to the left arm over bowler that left him slightly.  This brought Simon in to join Dane who hit a full toss for four first ball.  Next over Simon hit 3 fours off him that resulted in a bowling change.  A slow spinner cam on but delivered too many full tosses to Simon who hit him for 26 in 2 overs.  When Dane was bowled by the accurate opening bowler, Hassan (13) came in and although he managed to club 3 fours, he struggled to get forward on a pitch where the top surface had dried and was coming loose that meant that the ball was keeping very low.  Big Dog came in carrying a bad back from his keeping exploits earlier and was in resolute mood.  When Simon (47) was out with 10 overs left there was still 80 runs to win.  Ali and Dog defended soundly to some good accurate bowling that did not offer the opportunity to attack.  114-5 (effectively 6 with only 10 men as Umair had stayed at home to watch football) meant that it was a draw.

MOM: Simon – all round performance

Catch of the day: Mike Henry – Dane beaten into second place for the second time this weekend!

Quote of the day: “Use your hands” as another ball goes through the field with a foot attempting to stop it.