I had decided earlier in the week that Tom needed a rest, to sharpen up his action, so our opening pair were Vicus and Steg; second up were our slower bowlers, Realdoc and me; our third pair were Medusa and Phil.
Our openers started sharply enough, and we were encouraged when Vicus bowled a man when the score was only: 11-1.
After that, though, we really struggled, with none of our bowlers managing to achieve a breakthrough. We were well into our second spell of bowling, and had seen the total fly over 100, before I managed to make the player sweep the ball straight into the hands of Frangelita at Square Leg: 106-2.
The next man in, unfortunately, was equally strong, and the score moved on apace; I seriously felt that we would be facing a target of something like 400. Fortunately in his third spell Vicus managed to top-edge the batsman to Gulley, where I held on to the ball: 169-3.
On the next change of bowlers I managed to get an edge to MinCat in the slips: 177-4
When Medusa came on to bowl, she managed to get a catch to Frangelita at square leg: 215-5.
Steg clean bowled his man: 228-6.
Realdoc achieved an LBW: 252-7.
In the next over I bowled my man: 253-8
Frangelita held another catch at Square leg, off Realdoc’s bowling: 261-9.
Realdoc finished off the innings (again) as Frangelita took her fourth catch: 263-10.
Tea was impressive. What more can I say? Unfortunately our score-board monitor had eaten most of the fudge cake before the players got there, but otherwise, a lovely meal.
Vicus whispered to me that his old waterworks problem was playing him up again. I promised to be discrete about it, but it seemed unlikely that he would be able to bat.
With Vicus dropped to no. 11, and Tom not playing, we needed a new opening pair. Richard and Jona admirably filled the gap. Richard set off aggressively, but unfortunately was LBW when the score had reached just 29-1.
I was clean bowled before I had time to get my eye in: 35-2.
This was not the start we needed if we were to get anywhere near their score. Fortunately our batting line-up runs quite deep, and it needed to, after MinCat was out LBW when the score had reached: 73-3.
Jona, after an impressive start, was out caught, scooping the ball up to Square Leg: 80-4.
A brilliant stand of 99 brought some cheer into our drooping hearts, only ending when Steg was caught behind, trying to loft a ball for 6, to get his 50: 179-5.
Medusa laid into the bowling, scoring fours off three successive balls as she cruised past her half-century; sadly her attempt at a fourth saw her clean bowled: 191-6,
Ivy edged a catch to the keeper: 228-7.
35 runs needed, but with Vicus unable to bat we only had two more wickets left.
Our Vice-captain and Phil made a spirited attempt to win the match, ending when Frangelita was bowled: 260-8.
4 runs required. Our last pair, Phil and Realdoc at the crease.
3 runs made, leaving Phil puffing and panting. Realdoc then demonstrates that the time she has spent in the nets has not been wasted, striking the shot of the day – a brilliant cover drive for 4. WE WIN!!!
And as the league table shows, Touch and Go lost their match, and so we move up to head the league, with just two matches to play.
13 comments:
Frangelita has a square leg?
what about a tea and cakes report?
someone sat on my favrouite pencil and snaped it in two. . .
;-)
(sorry, appalling spelling this morning)
There is a 'tea and cakes' report. Right in the middle: 'Tea was impressive. What more can I say? Unfortunately our score-board monitor had eaten most of the fudge cake before the players got there, but otherwise, a lovely meal.'
sorry - can't see properly (puffy, bloodshot eyes), or was it because I didn't spot the phrase "lemon drizzle". . .
hope I'm forgiven?
Nothing to forgive.
I was hoping you weren't going to mention the lemon drizzle; a couple of us sneaked most of it into our kit-bags to take home; I suspect most of the team didn't get any. We blamed the opposition, of course.
By the way, my original draft of the tea report said:
'our score-board monitor had eaten most of the fudge cake before the players got there, but otherwise, a lovely spread.'
I changed it, in case anyone thought the final phrase described Ziggi, rather than the meal.
Well I think we did rather well considering there were some very familiar names in the opposition line up (like most of the mid 90s Kent side).
Can I request not to be paired with Medusa next time? The snakes put me off my stride.
sorry, I was hungry I can't afford to eat I've spent all my money this month (and next and next and next etc)on something expensive.
No wonder the house is never tidy - it seems I'm always playing cricket ;o)
Yes, I thought my practice would pay off.
I could provide a catheter bag for vicus next week if required.
Dave, i would like to watch one of your virtual cricket matches, but i don't know how this works. where do i go? what do i do? i want to cheer for you!
I would love to welcome spectators, but unless folk can get round to my place on a Saturday afternoon, this may be difficult, as I play the game on my computer here. I don't have an on-line version, that we could all join in.
I could, I suppose, video the screen, and post matches on YouTube.
Post a Comment