Coombe Bissett 12/05/19

On another warm day at Coombe Bissett the Wanderers elected to bat.  Both sides had lost players in the week and could only field 10 each.  Mike M was bowled early on which brought Simon out to join big Mike.  Simon soon lost the new ball with a straight six and the pair were going well until Simon (24) was bowled by a straight one through the gate.  David was caught for no score and Sam (on debut) was stumped dancing down the wicket trying to dispatch the ball out of the ground.  At 62-4 from 13 overs the innings looked precarious, especially with only 10 men.  Mike H was nowhere to be found when he was supposed to be batting so Zee partnered Mike.  He played a sensible innings – attacking loose deliveries but playing good balls on merit.  Big Mike passed his 50 and continued to be the rock of the innings.  Once inside the last 12 overs Zee (48) opened up and made a huge contribution to the 92 partnership for the 5th wicket.  Nipper came in for the last 6 overs and although Mike was unable to turn singles into twos by this stage, Nipper accounted for 42 not out from those 6 overs that yielded 50 runs in total!  Mike was undefeated on 74 and deservedly applauded off the pitch as the Wanderers made 215-5 in 40 overs.

Mark opened the bowling with Zee (who had to rush off to be guest of honour at a special dinner that night) and despite some great bowling and fielding, the batsmen made the most of the occasional loss of length.  Sam used all his height to take a catch off Zee for the first wicket, but the score was 21-1 from the opening 4 overs.  the following 10 overs yielded 50 runs before Mark struck with the last ball of his spell to finish on 1-28.  Zee (1-38) was a touch unlucky with some edges flying to the boundary.  Sam (2-39) took a wicket bowled before running behind him to take a fine return catch off a skier.  David (1-13) added a measure of control with some good line and length deliveries proving that it was not easy to score if the ball was well delivered.  He also benefitted of having the sun low in the sky behind his arm as did PW who replaced him.  He got his wicket when Mike H held a catch.  Nipper had had his spell of 2 overs, 1 wicket for no run and was replaced by Simon for a short spell.  By now, Zee had departed and was replaced by Jemma who came on to bowl the last over!

A great win by 38 runs.

MOM: Mike W

Catch of the day: Sam c&b

Quote of the day: “I’ve never before seen the next man in asleep on the boundary!” about Mike Henry