Derwent Globetrotters 20/07/19

With limited availability due to Saturday fixture and ever-growing injury list, the Wanderers managed to get 10 men for most of the game.  Crucially the captains agreed to a free hit for no-balls.  David and Mike M opened the innings after Fred put the Wanderers into bat.  Overnight rain had made the top surface wet and spongy but the beautiful playing conditions meant it will dry as the day progresses.  A slow start (5 from 5 and 20 from 10) but a platform was being built for the innings.  Mike was fortunate to escape when a defensive shot rolled back onto off-stump but failed to dislodge the bails!  The free hit was becoming a regular occurrence – in one over there were 5 no-balls but only 1 free hit resulted in additional runs.  Mike (23) was bowled in this over by one of the legitimate balls that brought Tommy to the crease.  He also struggled to make use of the free hit!  Next over Tommy fended a delivery away from his chest region with his forearm and called for his helmet and was caught behind next ball.  Simon tried to accelerate too quickly caught at mid-off driving to leave the Wanderers 74-3 from 22 overs.  Conrad, making his first appearance since last season’s tour, got off the mark with a free hit six over mid-wicket.  David (31) was next out but had been the rock of the innings, having been bowled and caught twice on free hits!  Conrad (14) tried an expansive drive to a straight one and was clean bowled.  This left Hasan batting with the incoming Big Dog.  This 6th wicket-partnership was match transforming.  Hasan was using the pace of the ball to glance fours through third man and Big Dog hitting forcefully in front of square.  With free hits still on offer (25 no-balls in total), it took just 8 overs to put on 65 for this partnership.  Hasan (24) was caught to bring his brother Omar into bat, who was also out to Fred, this time c&b for 1.  Mark, fresh from arriving after work, lasted 1 ball before swinging wildly to a straight ball and missing.  Dog was eventually caught 1 shy of 50 to end a superb innings to leave PW to bat on until he was bowled.  186 all out.

Tea was provided by Simon.

Mark was again on the spot with every delivery, causing difficulty for the batsmen throughout his spell.  David took the opening wicket with his first delivery – the ball cutting down the hill to clip the top of off-stump.  The downhill slant impacted on David’s length and Omar came on down the hill, bowling some good deliveries but at top quality batsmen.  Mark picked up the other opening batsman’s wicket when at attempted drive looped up over Conrad at mid-off.  He nonchalantly put up his right hand to take a spectacular one-handed catch.  Mark (2-15) then took the wicket of Fred, who defended onto his pad with the ball then rolling onto the stumps, this time with enough force to dislodge the bails.  Tommy took the key wicket when a high shot towards the mid-wicket boundary picked out Mark.  After initially running in, he went back into position to take a fine catch.  Tommy (2-16) went on to take the wicket of the batsman who’d never played before – LBW on the thigh with a full toss that come down with snow on the ball.  Simon had a couple of overs before his knee played up and PW struggled to stay online bowling up the hill where the slope should have assisted his action.  Conrad was the pick of the bowlers mixing up the pace and action to ask questions of the batsmen each delivery.  He also hit the top of offstump for a dismissal and Simon took a sharp catch at short mid-off.  David came on up the hill and had 2 good stumpings from Dog, although Dog was unsure where he was appealing as the umpire was lying down!  It was then off to the pub for beers.

DWCC win by 50 runs.

MOM: Conrad

Catch of the day: Mark

Quote of the day: When thinking of jobs for Tommy “How about Dwarf gigolo”