Yeovil Panthers 09/07/23

Shan won the toss and the Wanderers were asked to bowl first. Leo opened the attack from the playground end with Tommy opening from the road end. Leo was extracting movement off the surface as well as swing causing difficulty for the batsmen. Tommy was less buffet more accurate, although the occasional delivery on the leg-side caused difficulty for Skipper behind the stumps. After 8 overs the Panthers had roared on to 40 without loss and Harry’s dad Matt (on debut) came on at the playground end. In his second over he effected the breakthrough taking the opening batsman when Brett took a catch. In the same over Matt (2-22 from 4) took the next wicket with the new batsman trapped on the back foot in front of the stumps (57-2 from 11). Brett replaced Tommy (0-38 from 6) at the road end and was into his stride early on with a chance going to James at point. The ball appeared to follow James for a while, with a couple of other chances going his way in the innings! Brett did get a wicket when one delivery left the batsman catching the outside edge on the way through to Skipper ‘keeping. There were some calamitous moments in the field with the ball evading fielders and ending up in the thick hedgerow! Simon (0-14 from 2) was unable to get his range with almost every ball a full-toss, even when reverting to seam-up! Harry was able to demonstrate leg-spin bowling and was soon causing some tricky moments for the batsmen to negotiate. He got his reward for a fine spell when the ball was directed high to Tommy at long-on where he took the catch comfortably. Brett trapped the new batsman LBW before taking the wicket of Shan for no score when he tried to loft it over long-on only to find Tommy. PW came into the attack and was reverse pulled for four first ball. He had the last laugh when the batsman tried to repeat the feat, missing the ball and watching it take the top of middle stump! He then drew the new batsman forward leaving Skipper to take a comfortable stumping. Leo returned and deservedly claimed the wicket of Ali (84), who had batted solidly throughout the innings. PW then repeated his feat with Skipper taking another stumping to finish the innings 181 all out.

Matt and Simon opened the innings for the Wanderers with Matt hitting the first ball for four (off a no-ball) and the next going for four byes! The partnership was developing nicely with little sign of any problems when Matt (13 from 18) tried to force a straight ball onto the leg-side and missed, the ball clattering middle and leg (31-1 from 8). Tommy (14 from 22) played some fine shots, including a delightful straight drive, until he played a horrid shot to lose his leg-stump (57-2 from 15). Leo steadied himself before playing his expansive shots, taking 14 off an over from Ali! Simon (38 from 72) did not look set at any stage and although he tried to play himself into form, he was bowled playing an expansive shot to a straight ball (115-3 from 25). Skipper hooked Raj for a big six into the dense undergrowth and the pair were running well together, keeping the fielders alert without taking any risks. Leo (49 from 62) played an innings worthy of enormous credit and was very unlucky to get a brilliant delivery on 49 that tied him up and hit leg-stump (164-4 from 31). Harry joined Skipper, but Shan’s introduction to the attack appeared to change the complexion of the game. Skipper (29 from 21) tried to force Shan away but got a thick outside edge that the keeper somehow held onto one-handed (164-5). Brett and Harry managed to see the Wanderers over the line with a little to spare. A 5 wicket victory in the 36th over.

MOM: Leo undoubtedly with a masterful innings

Catch of the day: Tommy – both long-on catches were good, but the one to dismiss Shan was crucial.

Quote of the day: “Gerald is back” reference to Simon and his heat stroke problems reoccuring.