Match Report vs Eclipse
31 May 2023 @ St Fagans (Skipper Luvvers, report Jim)
During the previous Sunday’s win at Barry Island, skipper
Luvvers had remarked that the Casuals were ‘starting
to look like a proper cricket team’. Would the Cazh
continue in this vein of form, or would the skipper’s
statement prove to be the kiss of death?
On paper, this game certainly appeared to have the makings
of a tough one for the Cazh. Facing Eclipse, who they had
not beaten in 6 games, a run going back to 4th May 2017 (with
a match report containing some questionable Star Wars puns)
[Ed- since been re-checked we played Eclipse twice in 2021
and won the league game 22/07/21), is never an easy task.
This, coupled with Eclipse being the 2022 Willow League and
Cup winners, did make the odds less favourable. However, this
did not deter the Cazh, who all arrived promptly at a sunny,
but windy, St Fagans, looking to continue their fine form
and reach the cup semi-finals.
Skipper Luvvers won the toss and elected to bat, before striding
out to open with Alex. The first delivery saw a loose full
toss, which Alex glided through gully for 4, with each ball
improving before a perfect in-swinger (taken by the wind)
took out Alex’s stumps, with Will coming in at 3. Second
over saw Luvvers on strike and, evidently, the bowler had
never faced him before, as he bowled a nice, full delivery
at his legs, allowing the skipper to send it for 6 on the
leg side. The skipper received a few more full tosses or short
deliveries, all of which were suitably dispatched, meaning
he retired on 27 in just 3.2 overs, with the score 44-1.
Jack B (we need to find a nickname) went out at this stage
and played a good role in rotating the strike. Will, meanwhile,
started taking the attack to the bowlers with some nice 4s,
before retiring in the 7th over with the score on 74. Bryn
was next in and looked to push singles and run hard to keep
the run rate going. It was at this stage that Eclipse started
to use their better bowlers, with Bryn being bowled by the
quickie, bringing Rob in, who supported Jack in reaching his
retirement score.
James came in and, knowing there were 3 batsmen retired,
decided to swing at everything, to little effect before being
bowled with the score on 121. Rob went soon after, the bowler
taking a good catch off his own bowling, with Maxy bowled
soon after. Nadders didn’t last long as he was run out
in the penultimate over, showing the right desire to push
for every run, whilst Dan was caught in the final over whilst
looking for boundaries. This allowed Luvvers to come back
in, confidently sending the final ball of the innings for
4, the Cazh finishing on 146-7 off their 18 overs.
Alex b4
Luvvers no31
Will ret25
Jack B ret27
Bryn b5
Rob ct&b13
James b2
Dan ct16
Maxy b0
Nadders ro2
Liam no1
Whilst the Cazh innings had seen a collapse of 5 wickets
for 20 runs, the team remained confident as they took to the
field, knowing the Eclipse would need to come out swinging
to have a chance of reaching the target score of 147. Dan
and Alex opened the bowling, with Dan almost taking a wicket
in the first over, the ball just evading the diving skipper
at slip. Dan got his man in the 3rd, however, bowling the
opener through the gate, before Alex bowled the other opener
in the 4th, leaving the score at 25-2 off 4.
Maxy replaced Dan and, after a couple of loose deliveries,
took the important wicket of the Eclipse skipper, who spooned
the ball up in the air for Alex at fly slip. Maxy then gave
himself a chance of a hattrick by bowling the number 3 batsman,
who played on chasing a wider delivery. The hattrick ball
was well defended by the new batsman but, after a succession
of wides, Maxy had his man by crashing the ball into the pads
for an LBW, before having the number 7 batsman caught by a
diving Dan at long-on (unlucky Steveo) to cap a devastating
two over spell, leaving Eclipse 44-6 after 7 overs –
the victory looked to be on the cards.
After 3 wicketless overs, where Eclipse added 28 to their
score, Jack got in the act and claimed two wickets in three
deliveries. The first saw the batsman send the ball in the
air towards third man, with Alex making up good ground to
somehow catch the ball between two fingers. The second, meanwhile,
saw Jack strike the batsman on the back leg for an LBW, Eclipse
8 down with only 7 overs left and 60+ runs needed. They had
left some batsmen low down the order, but this had little
effect, with Will taking the final two wickets. First, a low
catch off his own bowling to remove the number 8, before Liam
taking a catch at point the following over and seal the victory.
Eclipse all out for 91 off 14.4 overs. The Cazh into the semi-final!
Dan 2-0-8-1
Alex 2-0-17-1
Maxy 2-0-13-4
Nadders 2-0-11-0
Jack B 2-0-9-2
Rob 1-0-12-0
Bryn 1-0-9-0
Will 1.4-0-3-2
Liam 1-0-8-0
Catches: Alex x2, Dan, Will, Liam
Post-game saw the Cazh retire to the clubhouse for drinks
and buffet, reflecting on their current run of form and how
they continued to look like a ‘proper cricket team’.
Questions were pondered about our likely semi-final opponents
and our chances in that fixture, whilst the skipper declared
certain words, relating to wins, were not to be spoken…
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