Bride Vale 25/06/23

After lunch in the Spyway with Simon and Skipper declining beer due to previous day’s golf day and Mike Moore due to a long pub-crawl, the squad gathered in Little Bredy, with James struggling to find it again!

Skipper decided to see what the wicket would do by electing to field first in a time match. After a good opening maiden from the Brill (0-17 from 4), the batsmen found a way to keep the scoreboard ticking, and at 8 overs they were 32 without loss. Leo was especially unlucky with Simon putting down a one-handed chance at slip, and then Skipper unable to hold onto a diving chance. Foz came on and, with a 7/2 field, and passed the outside edge of the bat on several occasions. On the times he dropped short, it was easy to pull into the leg-side gap. His spell ended with the all-important breakthrough with a delivery that bamboozled the batsman and taking off-stump (70-1). Ben was expensive in his spell from the pavilion end and was replaced by Brett. Ali took the next wicket when the ball seemed to be looping over Brett at mid-wicket, only for Brett to stretch out his left arm and the ball fell perfectly into his hand (70-2). He almost repeated this feat later in the innings but this time the ball evaded him! A maiden from Brett was followed by another wicket for Ali (2-18 from 6). This time the ball kept low with a hint of movement, taking the stumps (72-3). Brett (0-11 from 3) gave way to Simon who was still recovering from his hangover and it showed in his bowling going for 13 runs in his over! Worse was to come for Simon who put down a routine catch at cover and a sharp chance at slip! Leo came back for a second spell and was instantly making an impact with the ball swinging in viciously, claiming the crucial wicket of Brian (47) with a c&b (107-4). The dropping of catches was not limited to Simon. Foz managed to put down a catch in gully off Leo, a high one at backward square-leg and one at extra-cover! Ali thought he got a critical wicket with the umpire (David) giving an LBW out, only for Skipper to call him back as he had heard the edge onto his pad. Leo got two wickets in two overs; first a fortunate LBW decision and then an unplayable delivery that went straight through the Bride Vale danger batsman. (127-5). Skipper was told that Leo had bowled his ECB ration of overs at this point (although he still had 3 left) and he was replaced by Ben (0-33 from 7). Ben’s second spell had some quality deliveries swinging into the right handed batsmen, but some loose ones that were dispatched. Shan had a brief spell, which included a 5-run penalty for the ball hitting the helmet as Skipper continued to battle with the bounce on the wicket, before PW came on to rip through the tail. After hitting several round the corner straight at Skipper behind the stumps (who was taking evasive action), the batsman got in a mess trying to do the same with one that hit the top of middle stump (141-7). Brett took a more routine catch to dismiss the home skipper, again off the lethal bowling of PW (2-7 from 3) (143-8). The batsmen got in a mess giving Leo the opportunity for a calm run-out (144-9). The Wanderers could not dislodge the final pair leaving Bride Vale 159-9 at tea.

Ali and Mike M opened the Wanderers’ innings, with Mike crashing the ball to the boundary ropes twice in the opening 3 overs! Ali was getting set with some singles and extras were keeping the scoreboard moving. Mike went through a spell of 24 deliveries with only 1 run off the bat before he was run out, remarkably chasing a second run while running to the danger end (22-1). Simon still looked out-of-sorts while batting and he tamely for 1 (43-2). Shan (8) played two great shots but decided to charge down the wicket and was stumped (52-3). By now Ali was in a grove and hitting the ball all round the park, with one six over long-on. He fell in similar fashion to Simon, trying to get forward but playing and missing. Although he looked like he might have got back, he was dismissed (65-4). With another 95 runs to get, Skipper joined Brett, and was pleased to be able to play himself in with Brett making most of the inroads into the total. A six to cow-corner was the highlight, but Brett went for 25 while trying a late-cut to a fairly full delivery that was taken well behind the stumps (92-5). Leo played as if he had played on this sort of surface for years and it was unlucky that he called for a single and then decided to go back, but Skipper was committed and Leo (3) was run out (98-6). Ben (2) occupied the crease while Skipper accelerated until he offered a c&b opportunity (116-7). Foz (4) struck a boundary first ball but then he too was c&b (135-8). The Brill came out with 25 required and only PW waiting to come in, but with 13 overs left there was plenty of time. By now Skipper was smashing the ball to all parts, but had confidence to take a single early in the overs to give Stu the strike. Stu (11*) creamed 2 fours in his supportive role while Skipper (53* from 38 balls) hit the runs. There was one scare when there was a strong stumping appeal against him late on that was not out, otherwise a splendid innings guided the Wanderers home by 2 wickets with 9 overs to spare (the last 41 runs from 19 balls).

MOM: Skipper – captain’s innings

Catch of the day: Brett with one hand was a highlight of the day.

Quote of the day: Do you realise you have 12 players today? David’s mathematics far better than that of Skipper!

Cooling off in the river after the game!