Plush 22/07/18

Another scorching day this time at Plush saw Simon elect to bat again!  Peter dispatched 2 fours before he was unlucky to be LBW for 8 in the second over.  Will was also looking steady when he hit straight to long-on where a good catch was taken, although the boundary line was unclear!  Simon (32) came to join David at the crease and was in equally attacking mode and had hit some ferocious boundaries until he top edged a straight full toss high enough for the bowler to chase back and settle himself for a good catch.  Matt didn’t really settle and when he departed without score, Nipper came to the crease.  David’s fine innings of 25 included 5 fours – assisted by the lightning fast outfield – and when he was bowled Zee joined Nipper with the score on 89-5!  Some great selective hitting restored some parity in the scoreboard and just as these two were taking control disaster struck.  Nipper toe edged to the keeper for 27.  Luke was caught soon afterwards without adding to the score and Max (his annual trip from York) managed 2 before he offered catching practice to silly cover (143-8).  Mike was able to keep Zee company for a while with Zee marshalling most of the strike on his way to a splendid 47 before he was bowled with the partnership worth 48.  Pete was unable to see out the overs, so Mike was left not out 9 in a good total of 191 all out.

Zee and David opened the bowling after tea and neither looked to have the measure of the solid opening batsmen.  Matt then delivered some additional flight which made the batmen think a bit more and Luke struggled to find the consistency that has been his recent trademark.  After 15 over the score was 61-0.  It was Matt who took the first wicket although the batsman had just been hit on the chest by Max when returning the ball to the keeper!  By this stage Nipper was bowling some spin at the other end due to a phantom shoulder injury and he claimed the next wicket with one that turned.  When Matt (8-0-22-1) concluded his spell Max, the Legend, came into the attack and claimed the prize wicket of Roger (45) when Matt took a stunning catch low down in front of him at backward point.  Another came soon after and it was looking good except for the home captain who was in fine form.  Will tried an over but declined any more which brought PW into the attack.  A class batsman departed when he went to play forward and did not account for the leg-spin which took off-stump.  Next over a left-hander tried to turn it behind only for Simon to make the ground to take the catch.  Will then took a quite brilliant catch at long-on, diving to his left on the boundary!  The most comical moment was when a stumping chance came to Simon that bounced off his knee into the off-side.  The batsman lost his balance and fell to the ground.  Simon scrambled to get the ball and then realised that the batsman was floundering on the deck out of the crease, so he took off the bails!  PW then completed his first ever 5 wicket haul with the wicket of the youngster caught by Zee which brought in the last batsman.  PW could have had another if he had held a rocket c&b chance and there was a close run out opportunity when Nipper fired one in from the boundary – both warming PW’s hands!  30 were required from the final 2 overs and a huge 6 helped to take 16 off PW’s last leaving 14 required with Zee coming back for the last over.  With every player mover to the boundary, a classy four split the off-side field.  A few runs and dot ball meant 3 was needed from the final ball.  A firm shot to the cover boundary was fielded by Mike H and the game was won!

MOM: PW 6-0-32-5

Catch of the day: Will

Quote of the day: “We’ll be hearing about this for a long time to come!”  Nipper on PW’s 5 wicket haul