Match Report vs Eclipse Print 1 June 2009

A better day for cricket couldn’t be had so with Pikey not playing all looked good. Until Dan phoned to say he'd be late. And Manish not showing up at all.

Skipper Muff lost the toss and Eclipse decided to have a bat so the Cazh took to the field with 9 and a lot of ground to cover. With Simon declaring himself fit he took the gloves and Rog opened the bowling from the pavilion end and Dan finally arriving from the chav end.

Things didn’t get off to the best of starts with the oppo looking to hit hard and run aggressively and got off to a flyer however we got the first wicket with a smart run-out by Simon to a suicidal run. Unfortunately a well stuck on drive off Dan whistled to Will at mid-on where he did an excellent stop but in the process broke his arm [Ed - as turned out only a bruise...though this wasn't found out until 2 weeks later when the plaster came off...] and had to go off to casualty! Get well soon Willy!!!!! With the Cazh back to 9 men a hard evening in the field beckoned.

Dan came off after 2 overs replaced by DT who after being mauled in his first over brought some control back to the game and picking up a wicket bowled. Rog bowled his 4 with 1 wicket again bowled and I think in between came a run-out with a great throw from Dan from the boundary and good work from Goughy. Muff up next for Rog and kept the batsmen tied up for 2 overs and picking up a wicket stumped by the Gough. Shakey on for DT bowled for 2 overs with no reward although he really should have had a caught and bowled but the poor old bugger now has the turning ability of the Exxon Valdez!!! and the chance went begging.

JR on for Muff bowled straight and got a good run-out deflecting the ball onto the stumps and stranding the non-striker who bless him walked when it became obvious that the umpire didn’t have a clue. This left Dan and Muff to finish off the innings Dan with no reward but Muff having a bit of a golden spell picked up 3 wickets all bowled and just missing out on a hat-trick.(bugger). The Eclipse ending on 102 which considering we played the majority off the innings with 9 players was a great effort.

Scott and Tesh opened for us and looked good until Tesh got a good one and was out for 5 lbw. JR joined Shandy and the fun began with a few yes, no, waits but some good running in between until Shandy got a pearler and was bowled for10. Shakey in next and out next bowled for 1. Simon up next and the score ticked along with boundaries hard to come by due to some excellent bowling from Eclipse. JR was the next to perish (I think) run-out for 7.

Rog and Simon kept going until Rog was bowled for 6 trying to force the pace and Goughy soon followed played on for 11. With the tail of a Manx cat some prudence was called for but with 52 needed off the last 6 overs, Dan and Muff decided to first secure some much needed batting points and then decided to revert to indoor running! At one point I turned for a fourth run to be confronted by a collapsed Dan! 27 needed off 3 overs.

Regular meetings were taken in the middle, not to discuss tactics but to get our breath back. You can tell who the smokers are!!!! By some miracle we got to the last over with 7 needed but lost Dan with 5 required as he tried to go for another boundary for a knackered 20 to a good catch under pressure and with 3 to win off the last 3 Dave strode in.

Next ball should have been smacked for 4 but Muff picked out the boundary fielder for just a single. A wide, a miss and a bowled and it was over, Dave bowled for 0 leaving Muff on 11 not-out and the Cazh finishing on 100 all out.

Great effort with 9 players and a very enjoyable game.
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[Milestones]
The following Milestones were reached in this game. Congratulations to:
Simon Gough - 150 appearances

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