Pacific (on tour) 16/7/22

A splendid breakfast in Pylle got the tour off to a solid start, with Tommy (having eventually turned up on the train) getting a portion of bacon!  Tom dropped a pin for the entrance to the ground, although Mike M started to look for it on the ground.  With the sun shining and the temperature rising, the Pacific team elected to bat first.  Stu opened proceedings with Jon, back from Abu Dhabi, opening from the Pavilion end.  It was Jon, bowling the fourth over at the left-handed batsman, who took the opening wicket with the late swing drawing the outside edge and Bob taking a splendid catch low at first slip (12-1).  With the heat building, it was clear that short spells was the order of the day.  In Stu’s last over, he got the second wicket of the day as the batsman attempted to go over mid-off, only to find the safe hands of Tom.  David replaced Stu from the net end with Foz having a spell up the hill from the Pavilion end.  David (0-26) bowled some great deliveries in his spell but just the occasional loss of length was quickly seized upon by the two batsmen.  Foz (0-25) had a plan with a 7/2 off side field that almost paid off with the batsman managing to thread the ball between the short cover and extra-cover fielders who were awaiting the catch.  Simon chose the net end believing it to be up-hill even though it was clearly down-hill.  The over was a disaster costing 16 runs.  He then changed ends going for 22, 10 and 14 conceding 62 from 4 overs!  The groundsman’s magnificent efforts in preparing a splendid pitch were wasted on Tommy (1-35) who failed to pitch over half his deliveries and was lucky to be ‘rewarded’ with a wicket when Tom took another catch, breaking a third-wicket partnership worth 118.  With Ben (1-29) replacing Simon, he immediately caused problems with his in-swinging left-arm action, and took the prized wicket of the batsman nearing his century.  The opening bowlers came back on and Stu (2-37) was the beneficiary of another fine Bob catch.  There was time for a wicket in the last over when the batsman who had just celebrated his 50, tried to get on strike with what appeared to be a pre-determined run, only for the on-strike batsman to stay unmoved, giving Jon the easiest of run-outs.  The innings closed on 250-6

After tea in the cool of the pavilion and a chance to cool off, the Wanderers set about chasing their biggest ever target (previous best run chase 218 against Hooke and Powerstock in 2010).  Simon and Tommy got the Wanderers off to a good start with 33 runs from the opening 6 overs.  However, Tommy was caught in 2 minds and did not follow through, providing a simple catch for the mid-off (37-1).  Tom joined Simon (30*) but it was clear by the drinks interval that Simon was having difficulty with the heat and the skipper decided to retire him (hurt), sending Jon to join his brother.  The two of them batted splendidly together, punishing anything short.  Tom (74) was eventually caught on the long-off boundary with the score 164-2 from 28 overs.  Skipper (31) pulled a six but was more content to push a single every time he faced to keep Jon hitting the boundaries.  He was stumped trying to hit a six to win it with 3 to get, bringing Mike M in to win the game hitting a four first ball, and leaving Jon 66 not out with 1.2 overs remaining.

MOM: Jon for all round performance

Catch of the day: Bob at slip

Quote of the day: “Simon you look hot”