Match Report vs Ponthir 6th August 2023 @ Ponthir (Skipper Luvvers, report Jim)

Two days on from their cup final defeat, the Casuals rocked up at Ponthir in dribs and drabs, largely due to an accident on the M4 forcing players to drive through Newport, or take other alternative routes. Looking at the pitch and considering the recent appalling weather, skipper Luvvers indicated that he would bowl first. However, he lost the toss and we were put into bat on a pudding of a pitch, moist enough that Paul Hollywood would have offered a handshake of approval. A crowd had built following a football event in the morning, and with our latecomers finally arriving, the game could begin.

James and Steve B opened the batting, with Ponthir opening up with two youngsters, both bowling seam that produced little bounce from the pitch. With the outfield slow due to being wet, boundaries and runs were hard to come by, with singles being taken where possible. After finding the going particularly tough, and having a few close calls, Steve fell LBW in the 7th over, bringing Will to the crease. Not long after, James was next to fall, bowled by a low one in the 9th…no prizes for guessing the shot that was played!

Now, in our visit to Ponthir in May, Will had scored an unbeaten 122, but eye witness accounts indicate that he was dropped a number of times in said innings. No question, then, that our opposition would be keen to get him out. As it happens, whilst this reported was sulking in the changing rooms after his own dismissal, a loud cheer came from the field of play – Will was out! Caught at slip for 3, leaving the Cazh on 27-3. Jack joined Cheese in the middle and, whilst both were watchful, the run rate was upped a little, with both pushing the runs on offer, particularly with shots played to the long boundary towards the clubhouse, with their 50-partnership reached in the 19th over.

Law 38.5 Runs Scored – If either batter is dismissed Run out, the run in progress when the wicket is broken shall not be scored, but any runs completed by the batters shall stand, together with any runs for penalties awarded to either side. (Marylebone Cricket Club, 2017) - The Laws of Cricket | MCC (lords.org)

Just before drinks, disaster struck, as Cheese was run out following mis-communication with Jack when seeking a second run, having completed their first. Now, as the above quote would demonstrate, one run should have been added to our score, as argued by a number of Casuals (including qualified umpires and scorers). The home scorer, however, claimed they knew best, so no run added. Either way, a wicket had fallen and the skipper strode out, coinciding with a change of bowling and scoring tempo. Faced with some full, hip height deliveries, Luvvers did what he does best and dispatched these to the leg side boundary, before going for one too many and getting caught at deep mid-wicket.

Drucey in next and, after a few nervous strokes, finally got his first runs for the Cazh with a push into the covers. Jack had worked hard to keep the scoreboard ticking, but was caught behind after going for a late cut, with the score on 142, Drucey following not long after. As the sun came out, the wicket and outfield dried, the tail wagged for the Cazh. First, Rob and Goffy added 32, before the latter was run out. Liam then came in and, after a partnership of 34, was stumped with not long to go. DT was the last to fall, last ball of the innings, caught in the covers, with the Casuals having reached 214 (or 215).

James b12
Steve B lbw6
Will ct3
Cheese ro17
Jack ct35
Luvvers ct27
Drucey ct9
Rob no28
Goffy ro14
Liam st18
DT ct0

After the Cazh innings had taken days (3 hours) to complete, and an enjoyable tea was eaten, the Ponthir innings began just after 5pm, with the pitch having continued to dry out. Goffy opened from the top end and Rob from the railway end, with both testing the batters early on. Goffy getting some good away movement, Rob finding some grip and just missing the outside edge. An early chance also came off Rob’s bowling, a drop by Cheese on the long-on boundary, which would unfortunately prove to be costly. Both openers started to get going and, after Rob went for an expensive 4th over of his spell and Liam went for a very expensive spell, DT was unleashed and soon got the breakthrough, Drucey catching the opposition skipper at backward point with the score on 97 – Drucey’s first catch for the club.

The other opener had taken advantage of his earlier reprieve and started getting into his work, bringing up his century in the 26th over, retiring in the process, with the score on 163. The Cazh were up against it, but this retirement would give them the opportunity to get back into the game. With Steve B and Cheese having no luck, Jack had the number four batter caught by Will at fly slip. The next wicket followed soon after, with Will getting the number 5 LBW, and Jack getting another soon after by bowling the number 6, the score on 194 with 6 overs left.

With Ponthir’s number 3 having also retired, this left the youngsters to come in and see off the remaining runs. With Will and Jack sending down a couple of low scoring overs, the question was asked – could we win this? A run out (given to Jack, but not sure who threw the ball in (Rob)) added to this more positive thinking. Drucey was given the ball and, on the same day that he got his first Cazh runs and catch, also took his first wicket, LBW, with another in his second over, caught by Jack one-handed over his head. Into the final over, Ponthir needed 1 (2) runs to win, which they found on the second delivery, 215-7.

Goffy 7-0-25-0
Rob 4-0-33-0
Liam 3-0-29-0
DT 7-0-34-1
Steve B 4-0-30-0
Cheese 4-0-18-0
Will 4-0-11-1
Jack 4.2-2-14-2
Drucey 2-0-10-2

Catches: Drucey, Jack, Will

After the game, the Cazh enjoyed a well-earned drink and some leftover Papa John’s pizza from a party earlier in the day, wondering what might have been if they’d have fielded first and had the better batting conditions, or what the result could’ve been with the extra run being added to our batting total. Regardless, an enjoyable (but long) game against opposition who were good fun and, most importantly, provided a good tea!

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