Wriggle Valley 17/06/22

After a blisteringly hot day, the weather cooled enough to make it bearable at Chetnole.  The toss was won and Big Dog opened the innings with Shan.  After a  steady start progress was being made with Shan rocking back and pulling anything short to the boundary.  26 runs from the first 5 overs was a solid start on a variable pitch.  In the seventh over Big Dog (9) was bowled by a good delivery with Shan (18) holing out to long-off shortly after.  Simon (4) was bowled next over and Joseph (3), on debut, was bowled the following over leaving the Wanderers 39-4 from 9 overs.  Skipper (10) played on while trying to drive on a tricky driving pitch.  Ali (3) looked set for a partnership with Raj before he was adjudged LBW (73-6 from 13).  Raj continued to profit from any short deliveries and then launched a huge drive over cow corner out of the ground.  He was ably assisted by Pete who looked to be in great form.  They put on 35 together in 5 overs before Pete (19) edged on the ground through to the keeper and then went for a walk out of his crease, giving the simplest run out ever seen!  Raj (30no) retired with the option to come back if all out.  Aarv (0no), on debut, was joined by Mike H when Stu (1) was bowled.  Mike (1no) couldn’t find his box but eventually got padded up to face the last 5 deliveries. 121-8 was a good comeback from a tricky start.

Stu claimed the opening wicket with the first ball, a short delivery chipped to Shan at short cover.  Ali struck in the next over when Simon took a diving catch at short extra-cover and the chase was looking difficult.  Ali’s last over was expensive and Aarv was unlucky to be put away by a good bat that had turned the pendulum towards our hosts.  Shan (2-4) restored order with a blistering 2 overs that saw him sending the off-stump cartwheeling down the ground.  Raj bowled 2 superb overs conceding just 2 runs and Aarv (2-16 from 4) came back, claiming a wicket when Mike H took a splendid catch at backward point and later with a ball that seamed in and took middle stump.  Simon (1-12 from 4) bowled from the pavilion end and eventually started to get some turn, but not enough to get an LBW shout.  With Big Dog going through his warm-up exercises for his spell, Stu (3-6 from 3) ripped out the last 2 wickets, when Shan took a smart catch at short cover to finish the game with a good win for the Wanderers.

MOM: Shan – solid runs, accurate bowling and 2 catches.

Catch of the day: Simon – diving in.

Quote of the day: When Simon asked why an LBW was not given, stating that he was a leg spinner, the umpire replied “but you’d need to actually turn the ball to get the wicket”