Derwent Globetrotters 10/09/23

After being let down by several options of a venue, the Wanderers managed to get the game on at Compton House, on the artificial strip as the groundsman was busy with the harvest. Fred won the toss and put the Wanderers into bat on a scorching sunny day. David was unfortunate to miss-time a loopy delivery in the first over and was bowled without score. Fra managed to edge to Fred at first slip and the Wanderers were 6-2 from 3 overs. Skipper joined Big Dog and was immediately off the mark with a four down to fine-leg. Both batsmen were playing solid defensive shots to good balls and latching onto anything short of a length, which was sitting up nicely off the astro. Skipper used 2 lifelines when trying to club a full-toss over the bowler, he got too much bottom bat and presented a simple catching chance that was put down. He then gloved to the keeper who was, by then, taking evasive action and missed the chance. Skipper then put a pull shot into the pavilion and then hooked a no-ball into the next field. Big Dog was pulling the short ball as he was having difficulty cutting due to getting a beamer on the thumb early on in his innings. Skipper (49) was caught when trying to smash a short delivery back to mid-on only to find the grateful hands of Fred ending a 96 run partnership from 10 overs (102-3, 13 overs). Freddie came in to face Fred and got the better of him, striking some delightful boundaries including a big six. As the innings started to close in he was caught in the deep off Fred for 40, bringing Ollie to the crease (177-4, 30 overs). At the end of the over Big Dog retired having scored a magnificent 59 and stabilized the innings. This meant Nick was batting with Ollie but the running between the wickets did not have the communications one would have expected of a father-son combination! Nick (11) was soon caught in the deep trying to add to his 1 six and 1 four bringing Mike H to the crease. While Ollie was trying to marshal the strike, Mike managed to pull a delightful boundary. In the end, Ollie (18) was bowled to conclude a great innings of 226-7.

It was clear from the opening exchanges that any short deliveries were going to be punished and both Mark and Foz were on the end of some good boundary shots. At the end of Mark’s spell (0-23) the Trotters were 39-0 from 8. Ben was also hot on his first over but then started to find his line and length, using his in-swing to great effect. Foz (0-22) was unlucky not to get the breakthrough when he drew the batsman into a shot outside of off and got the edge that flew fast to Big Dog at first slip. Un fortunaltely he could not keep hold of it as it landed in the breadbasket. Foz then spent the afternoon enjoying the sunshine at fine-leg and long-off. David had similar difficulty to avoid the short ball being dispatched. There was some confusion when Freddie threw into Skipper who took off the bails. The umpire gave the batsman out, who then complained that he thought the ball was not in the gloves and eventually the Wanderers reversed the decision. It did not take too much longer for Ben to get the opening wicket with a beautiful in-swinging delivery that smashed into the stumps (74-1 from 15). In his next over Ben repeated the same ball with the same outcome (82-2, 17). David (1-26) then bowled the new batsman when he should have pulled for four (91-3, 18). Ben ripped out the other opening bat, who by now was on 60, with another perfect in-swinging yorker (95-4, 19). This came to a relief to the fielders who had dropped him during his innings (Big Dog, Ollie at long-on, Nick at long-off and Skipper standing up). Nick came on with the flames from the fire in the next field over his shoulder. He drew Fred down the wicket and left Skipper with an easy stumping, and then bowled the new batsman for no score (101-6, 19). The Wanderers had assumed control of proceedings and Fra turned his arm, replacing Ben (3-27) who had bowled a magnificent spell. Ollie (1-11) replaced Fra and took a wicket straight away with his leg-spin causing difficulties (137-7, 25). The game was still on with a class batsman at the crease, but he was having great difficulty in judging how to get hold of Nick’s flighted deliveries. There was a mix up between the batsmen that allowed a simple run out (137-8, 26). Nick (3-33) finished his spell with another deserved wicket when Skipper took another comfortable stumping (159-9, 29). Fra (0-34) had another over and it fell to Freddie to secure victory by bowling out his dad! A good win by 45 runs on a great day for cricket. Most retired to the pub to watch England open their account in the World Cup.

MOM: Big Dog with a commanding innings despite injury.

Catch of the day: No catches – 7 bowled, 2 stumpings and a run out.

Quote of the day: Who is dick of the day? Tommy, every day with a Y in it.