Bride Vale 20/06/21

Having won the toss in a time game at Bride Vale, the Wanderers elected to bat first, with Mike M and David opening up.  Mike (1) was bowled in the third over without having had the opportunity to bring out the helicopter shot.  Tommy was off the mark with a four and David was unfortunate that a couple of straight drives did not reach the boundary.  David (11) was unlucky when, trying to dig out the dipping ball, he edged it through to first slip.  With Skipper (6) looking confident, it was a blow when he got an in swinging yorker, and played down the wrong line.  With Josh (3) falling quickly, Simon T (3) came in to bat, only to fall in similar circumstances to Skipper with another fine in swinging yorker.  Meanwhile, Stuart was trying to get into his car with the help of the AA man having locked his keys in the car!  He went out to bat in Skipper’s pads and right handed gloves, but only scored 1 before he was trapped in front of the stumps with a ball that kept low to leave the Wanderers 90-6.  Gabe (Josh’s younger brother, on debut) played good balls well and hit a short ball over to cow-corner, just holding up in the long grass before reaching the boundary.  When he was caught at short cover for 2, the partnership had been worth 33, with Tommy accelerating through the gears.  Simon D had another straight ball keep low making an easy decision for Big Dog, who was on umpiring duties for the day.  Mark then played his part in keeping Tommy company.  Tommy hit a pull shot within 6 feet of the boundary (a six in Tommy’s book) and then went on to complete a fantastic century, eventually bowled trying to force the pace when on 112.  PW was bowled by one that turned leaving Mark 6 not out in a total of 172 all out.

Mark took the new ball and struck early with a fine c&b.  He followed this up with another c&b an over later.  Mean while Simon T was getting some turn from the other end and looking dangerous; occasionally straying to leg and getting punished.  Mark put down a sharp chance at silly-cover although Simon got his reward with a great leg break that drew the batsman forward, with Skipper taking a sharp stumping.  Stuart got his wicket with a delivery that swung in to the right handed batsman but failed to bounce, hitting the base of leg-stump.  Gabe came on to bowl and it was clear he was going to make an impact.  The so far undefeated opening batsman had looked in great form, but a quick single called by his partner left him stranded when some sharp close fielding from David gave Simon the simple task of completing the run out.  The incoming batsman was bowled by Gabe next ball with a great delivery, followed up with another wicket in similar fashion soon afterwards.  With 7 wickets in the bag, Tommy and PW came on to temp the batsmen into an error.  PW was unlucky when a stumping was not given and a catch at mid-off went down.  There were some great stops out on the boundary with Mark and Simon T both making some diving stops when a boundary seemed likely.  A mini-revival saw Mark come back on from the other end – this time getting 2 wickets thanks to 2 catches from Stuart at silly-mid-off.  This set up a tense finish with Simon T back on from the pavilion end this time and getting turn and bounce, trying to force the last wicket.  On the penultimate ball the batsman played and missed a straight ball only for it to bounce high over the middle stump.  An honourable draw was the result of a splendid afternoon’s cricket.

MOM: Tommy!

Catch of the day: Mark c&b

Quote of the day: Gabe; “This batsman has golden duck written all over him” moments before bowling him first ball!