Fonthill Park 31/08/19

With the weather closing in, Simon elected to bat.  Even before Dane and Tom walked out to bat the rain had started and there seemed no logic in the decision to start the game in the rain.  A beamer onto Dane’s helmet was his welcome and after 4 balls logic prevailed and the covers came on.  A half-hour delay allowed time for Conrad to arrive who had incorrectly assumed that the pouring rain he gets in Wales every day had reached Fonthill Park.  Dane (5) was the first to receive his marching orders from the umpire on a day when the umpires came under the spotlight.  Hassan was bowled for no score to bring James together with Tom.  Tom (15) was unlucky when an off drive appeared to bounce into the hands of the fielder, but no recall came from the umpire.  Conrad (1) was stuck in front of the stumps which brought Simon to the crease at 60-4.  A period of consolidation occurred and some good running between the wickets together with some firm hitting of anything loose kept the scoreboard moving nicely.  The partnership was worth 79 when Simon (33) was bowled by a good delivery from the new bowler who was on his way to a 5-wicket haul on his debut!  No further score was made before James was caught attempting to force a drive off the slow loopy spinner.  Bob (5) survived well before he too got a good delivery that he couldn’t keep out.  Mike H was playing well when all the action took place at the other end.  Ali (2) was LBW to bring in Luke.  He was caught behind off the glove trying to hook first ball to bring PW in to face a hattrick ball.  It was full and straight, and PW moved in front of his stumps to leave the umpire with no option but to raise the finger.  154 all out.

Ali opened the bowling with Luke, and both looked to be in good shape.  It was Luke who made the breakthrough when an attempted drive was sliced to Conrad at point.  The next wicket was also attributed to Luke but was due to a splendid catch at long-on by Dane.  Luke bowled the next batsman with a fine delivery to complete his haul of 3-30.  Conrad was providing his usual mix of deliveries but without any success.  Simon was on at the other end but the 2 batsmen at the crease looked to be in good form.  This productive partnership was broken when another attempted drive was sliced to Conrad who took the catch comfortably.  A second wicket followed for Simon (2-30) when he bowled a perfect yorker to the opposition captain.  However, the opening bat remained at the crease and was in the kind of form that would take the game away from the Wanderers.  Until PW (1-8) came on.  with his 4th delivery he enticed the batsman to drive to long-on where Tom took a routine catch.  With the game tilting in favour of the Wanderers, Tom (2-11) took 2 quick wickets, with Simon taking a fine catch at long-on.  Ali returned from the far end this time and had his first wicket when another drive went up, this time near Simon who leapt high to his left and one handed took a magnificent catch.  the final wicket was an LBW for Ali (2-25) after an attempted run out had been denied.  A 7-run win was a fantastic team effort.

MOM: James – an innings to hold the team together.

Catch of the day: Simon eclipsed Dane’s great catch at long-on with his diving one-handed catch!

Quote of the day: “Getting Tom to run a two is like getting the QE2 to turn round” from Bob!