Fonthill Park 13/06/21

On the first gloriously hot afternoon for cricket this season, the Wanderers were asked to field first.  Mark went for 9 from the first ball (5 no ball and then a four) and  more was to follow in a poor 1st spell by his standards.  David, at the other end, had found a rhythm and was proving difficult to get away, bowling the only maidens of the innings and conceding 16 from his 7 overs, although no chances of a wicket.  Simon T replaced Mark and the runs kept on coming.  Tommy brought a slight measure of control whereas Stuart struggled to find his rhythm.  There were some fielding moments that ought to be forgotten but the home side were not able to capitalise on the great start that they had made;  Skipper didn’t get underneath a high ball, David missed one with his shins, Simon dived over the ball on the boundary, PW seemed intent on playing football in the field and Big Dog had issues with leg-side deliveries when standing up.  The breakthrough inevitably came when PW came on to bowl.  Following 3 successive wides to start the over, the straight delivery hit the pad in front of the stumps.  Josh was on debut and because Pete Foz had not recovered from his knee injury, his dad (Simon D) stepped in to make the 11th man – which was needed in the heat.  SD came on to bowl and, despite a few shots clattered to the boundary, bowled with variation of pace and length keeping the batsmen thinking.  Tommy got the opening batsman out for 92 when he missed a straight ball that didn’t turn.  Mark’s second spell was completely different – on the perfect line and length with the variation in pace responsible for 2 of his wickets and Skipper taking a catch at mid-off after tripping on the way in to get to the ball!  His final over (last of the innings) was nearly a maiden. 184-6 from 35 overs set a run rate of over 5 an over to chase.

Mike M (13) saw off the opening bowler with some lusty blows before he was bowled from the 1st change after an opening partnership with Tommy of 50.  Simon (skipper) displayed his attacking intent but was always cautious of good deliveries.  He was caught at deep backward square leg after swiping at a high full-toss that fortunately had been called no-ball by the umpire (Big Dog).  When Simon (40) was adjudged caught behind the partnership with Tommy was worth 58 in 8 overs.  Simon T (15) seemed a frustrated figure at the crease, and although he put on 41 with Tommy, he never looked settled and was comprehensively stumped.   Josh (15no) looked assured making his debut innings for the Wanderers and helped to guide the team to victory inside 30 overs.  Tommy (65no) finished the match with a flourish, nearly hitting a six, but like his “previous six” on this ground, it landed well short of the line – nearly bouncing twice.

MOM: Tommy – His 1-33 was important in claiming the wicket of the top scorer, but his innings was the foundation that built the victory.

Catch of the day: Skipper at mid-off after nearly tripping over running in!

Quote of the day: Big Dog to PW after 3 huge leg-side wides to start his spell; “You do know that it’s a right handed batsman”