Priston 15/07/17

After meeting in the Ring O’ Bells for a pre tour beer (minus the 2 that Bob told that the game starts at 2pm) the game got underway at the scheduled start of 1:30 with the Wanderers electing to bat first.  David and Will opened the innings together with Will playing some fine attacking shots early on; a great pull for 4 to get off the mark.  David (11) was caught with the opening stand worth 54 between the Shardlows.  It had been worked out in the pub beforehand that Simon required 11 runs to acheive 10000 for the Wanderers.  Having been dropped on 4 he was bowled by one that failed to bounce on 10 leaving him on 9999 for the night!  Fred came to keep the batting pressing forwards.  They both batted superbly – rarely giving a sniff of a chance.  The partnership (153) was eventually broken as the drizzle started to come down when Fred was caught on 85 and is the highest 3rd wicket partnership in DWCC history – eclipsing that of Anwaar and Simon (137) in the T20 at Compton House last year.  Neil came in for a cameo before the Wanderers declared shortly before tea as the rain got harder. (242-3)

After a truely amazing tea, Will and Fred opened the bowling although any hope of Will getting any swing had been washed away with the near constant drizzle.  He did achieve the all important breakthrough when he got one to lift slightly, getting a top edge through to Simon.  David picked up the all important wicket of the other opening bat when he got an outside edge to Simon.  This was quickly followed by a stumping – Simon was going backwards to a speedy delivery and somehow being able to direct the ball onto the stumps!  Pete struggled to find the square at times in his spell but did claim 2 wickets – one an LBW of the in-form batsman.  There was 1 wicket for Bob but the pick of the bowling was Tom with great control, variation in pace and a bit of turn causing the batsmen all sorts of trouble.  He could have had more wickets but 2-12 from 10 overs speaks for itself.  Will came back on near the end to try to force a breakthrough of the stubbon defence and got 2 additional wickets to take his tally to 3-34, and the Wanderers within 1 wicket of victory.  With the drizzle finally subsiding to leave a bright evening, the chances came and went; a strong LBW shout for Tom and a simple slip catch in the same over to Fred – only to see it spilled onto the deck in what looked loke slow motion!  The last over was uneventful and the match was declared an honourable draw. (142-9)

MOM: Will – debut century and good spell of bowling in tricky conditions

Catch of the day: Simon off David