Fonthill Park 15/06/19

After a week of copious amounts of rain, it was just a relief to be playing at all!  After losing the toss, David was bowled in the second over and Simon was given out LBW first ball (although the opposition captain thought it unlikely).  Sahil joined Chris Blake with 2 wickets down for just 1 run.  They put together a stable partnership – fast running between the wickets and Chris blasting the ball to the boundary.  With Chris (25) caught attempting another cover drive, only to edge to point, the Wanderers were again in trouble at 41-3 from 11 overs.  Dan (standing in for Big Dog who was on giraffe watch!) joined Sahil and if anything increased the speed between the wickets – at one stage a defensive shot to mid-wicket brought about 2 runs!  By the time Dan (55) was given out LBW they had put on 94 together.  Sahil (38) hit a glorious 6 before he was bowled trying to up the rate.  By this stage, Ali had come in and was crashing the ball towards the leg-side boundary with some force.  Dane (4) struggled to get the ball away before he was bowled which brought Mike C (1no) in.  Ali (38) took on 1 run too many on the penultimate ball when he was comfortably run out which allowed Mike M to hit a single on the last ball to reach 190-7.

After tea Mike C and Ali opened the bowling with the new ball.  Ali was first to strike with an LBW shortly followed by Mike with a great delivery that came down the slope to take middle stump.  Mike was struggling with an injury so was replaced by Sahil.  The next breakthrough came from sustained pressure.  Chris was unlucky not to hit with a direct throw opportunity but then and an attempted quick single to Simon resulted in a run out.  Ali meanwhile was proving very difficult to score off, conceding just 14 in his 6 overs.  A father and son partnership were at the crease although it was the son who showed dad how to behave with dignity and respect for the opposition after some rather unsavoury words directed at David who had replaced Ali at the pavilion end.  There was happiness all around when Sahil took the dad’s wicket with a looping delivery that tempted him forwards only to miss horribly from the spin and take middle and leg.  An LBW followed straight away for Sahil before he took a smart return catch.  With his last ball of his spell an attempted drive went up in the air to long on where Simon took a comfortable catch to leave Sahil with 4-30.  PW was unlucky not to take a wicket but was replaced by David for the closing overs as the match situation became very close.  Chris could have had more than the 2 wickets he had after some sharp stumping chances weren’t taken and a catch at long on went down but the human Sahil.  However, the catch that the now completely immobile Mike C took to take the 9th wicket was so important at this stage with pressure mounting on both sides.  Game management was what was required, and the Wanderers were doing well with David due to bowl the last over.  A chance was taken on a sharp single – again at Simon.  The pickup was clean, and the throw bounced straight up to Chris’ hands over the stumps where he was able to take the final wicket, leaving the top scorer stranded on 84 not out.

DWCC win by 6 runs.

MOM: Sahil

Catch of the day: Mike C – considering the importance and the lack of mobility!

Quote of the day: Who is our child protection officer?