Cerne Valley 02/08/20

Having lost the toss at Cerne, the Wanderers took to the field, Covid ready.  With Dane side-lined due to a camper van incident, Omar was his replacement.  David bowled the first over of the season and it was a good start – pinning the batsmen back in their crease.  With Ali operating from the other end, runs were in short supply and the pressure was starting to build.  Simon T took a catch to remove the dangerous Roger off David’s bowling.  When a double bowling change brought Simon T and Omar on, the wickets began to fall.  David took a catch to remove the other opener and Omar’s second wicket (2-29) was a good c&b with the batsman attempting to pull to one that rushed on off the pitch.  Omar would have had another had the batsman refused to walk when a clear edge was well caught behind the stumps by Simon.  Simon T’s first wicket was a clear LBW – back in front of the stumps.  His second was one that turned the batsman inside out before going through the gate onto off stump.  With David (3-12) coming back on to claim 2 more wickets – one a yorker and the second a fin catch from Mike H – Tommy came on to provide the buffet (no tea can be served due to Covid).  Once Tommy started to use the pitch, he looked like he may get into the wickets and did so with another good catch from Mike H.  The fielding was looking great all round the ground.  Simon (4-20) and Simon combined to take the last 2 wickets both stumped – the first a leg side wide!  Ali was unable to continue bowling due to injury, so Hasan stepped in and once he found his rhythm, looked to be dangerous.  117 all out in 38 overs was not enough.

After a socially distanced tea, Mike W and Hasan opened the batting.  It was slow progress and when Hasan was bowled Tommy (28) went in to provide impetus to the innings with black clouds gathering.  No such acceleration occurred and after his dismissal – top edging to the keeper 2 balls after doing the exact same thing and getting away with it – Ali joined Mike.  A quick fire 12 from Ali was not enough.  When he was caught Mike H made his way to the middle only for torrential rain to bring an early end to proceedings with the Wanderers on 85-4 from 23.3 overs and Big Dog Mike 23 not out.  After an optimistic wait to see if proceeding could resume, the Wanderers retired to the pub.

MOM: David – a fine opening spell put the pressure on the batsmen.

Catch of the day: Mike Henry

Quote of the day: Pull the pin Tommy