Match Report vs Michaelschurch
Esclay 13 September 2009 @ Michaelschurch (Skipper
and Report Dan)
On arrival at B&Q at 11.30, Team Cazh had their pre match
warm up – cheese burger and onions from the gourmet
burger van. The route to Michaelchurch was mapped out and
the thought was a) it was going to take longer than the estimated
hour, and b) we were going to get lost. As it turned out only
Winkie, Shag and Dion got it slightly wrong following on from
Shagger’s map reading from the week before on tour…looking
for the ‘shortcut’….the team arrived at
the lovely scenic & sunny ground in plenty of time for
the scheduled 1pm start time, though needn’t have worried
as the oppo were still setting up the pitch when we arrived,
well rolling out the mat on the concrete wicket. Captain Dan
won the toss and decided to bowl first not knowing how the
wicket was going to play.
Shag and Dion opened the bowling attack, Shag struggling
early on to restrict the swingy new ball and narrow matted,
bouncy wicket, but only when for 1 of the opening over. Dion
began being slapped for 4 of his first ball, but from then
started to find his line. Eskley were a team made up of young
(late teens, early twenty’s) and old(er) players, it
became apparent pretty early on that the young ones all had
a touch of the ‘Goughy’ about them not so much
chipping at each other – rather aggressively and loudly
verbally abusing each other, which as a by-stander was quite
amusing. Anyway, the opening pair were pretty good, the left
hander played sensibly, putting the bad ball away (anything
short or over pitched) and his partner starting that way but
then began to swing across the line but connecting with quite
a few. Even though the run rate was pretty high, the fielding
was excellent, Andy F and Ed often in the firing line whilst
covering the area sloping down the hill. Shag and Dion persisted
and both got their reward in their respective last overs –
Shag bowling the cross batter (cross in more ways than one)
and Dion bowling the no3 with the last ball of his spell.
61-2 off 12overs.
With local rules off max 6 overs per bowler, the cazh were
fortunate to have plenty of bowlers to choose from. Winkie
and Goughy taking over the attack. Winkie sent down some blisteringly
quick deliveries, including a full toss that was somehow no-balled…which
only increased the speed of the subsequent ball, and Goughy
with a slightly leg side line to the left hander who tried
to take on the Gough attempting to cart him to cow corner,
until Goughy moved JF to cow corner exclaiming very loudly
that that was the batsman’s favourite shot!! Both bowled
tidily and it was Winkie who took the next wicket getting
their skipper caught behind by Kim. 88-3 off 20 overs.
Winkie continued from the one end whilst Foxy took over from
Goughy at the other. Foxy was slightly concerned that the
left handed opener might take a bit of a liking to him (I
guess he meant his style of bowling…), however the fielders
were able to defend the long boundary (as both batsmen were
lefties) as well as Foxy bowling a superb line and length.
In the 23rd over and Winkie’s last, after being clipped
for a 6, sent down a slower delivery inducing a false drive
from the opener, straight into the save and secure hands of
Mr Hand at mid off (for 51). 111-4.
Next over, Foxy’s fourth, the batsman took a suicidal
second run to Winkie at fineleg, good communication in the
field ensured a simple run out with Kim whipping off the bails.
116-5 off 24. Winkie was replaced by Jeff, and as normal he
strangled the scoring opportunity. In his 4th over (after
only conceding 1 run thus far, got the next wicket, bowled.
132-6 off 31overs. His following over he got the next also
bowled…not before the batsman ‘ruined’ his
figures taking a 4 and 2 wides! 148-7 off 33. Ed by this stage
had replaced Foxy and after getting thumped for a 6 in the
first over fought back with a double wicket maiden 2nd over
bowling one and the second (the remaining left hander) caught
by a back pedalling Shandy at gully. the left hander tried
to force the pace (41). 158-9 off 36overs.
Goughy came back on bowling a maiden with his first over
back. Ed took a bit of slap from the tail enders, but Goughy
got the last wicket caught and bowled. Eskley finishing on
173ao off 38.4overs. An excellent performance all round by
the Cazh fielding and bowling was superb.
Lewis – 6-0-26-1
Warwick – 6-0-35-1
Hood – 6-0-36-2
Gough – 5.4-1-14-1
Foxy – 6-0-28-0
Clapham – 6-2-10-2
Stewart – 3-0-21-2
Off to tea and the Cazh set about finishing it all off, and
did so in the main.
We guessed that we’d restricted the oppo to a score
which was a bit below par on a very bouncy track, but the
outfield was slow in places. Jam, standing in for Steveo opened
up with Ed who in the absence of any other willing parties
volunteered. The Cazh batting line up was unusually strong,
as Porno said over tea, anyone of the top 6 could score the
runs (cheeky b’stard) with Kim at 3, Shandy at 4, Goughy
at 5 and Jeff at 6….Dan at 7.
The opener was quick, and was bowling a little short, 2nd
ball glanced through slips for 4 by Ed. The other opener shocked
the batsman, scorers, Cazh spectators and Umpires…as
the bowler off a long run up blatantly threw the ball. Third
ball in he chucked in a short delivery that cleared Ed’s
head by about 2foot, at which point Winkie called a no-ball
and was forced to have a chat with one of the older members
of the opposition. The umpires were well within their rights
to call no-ball every delivery, but in the interests of Sunday
cricket no-balls were only called if deemed dangerous. Ed
to be fair didn’t look too interested to take the strike
when this lad was bowling, especially when he took one on
the elbow that was rising sharply towards his face and another
in the ribs.
The pair played very sensibly and only went after the bad
ball, Ed hitting some exquisite cut shots. The opener bowled
through, but the ‘chucker’ was taken off after
4 and was replaced by a left arm medium pace swing bowler.
After 10 overs the Cazh were on 38. The pair continued to
defend the straight balls and punish the bad. At drinks the
score was bang on target 80-0-off 20overs. Ed looked completely
at ease against anything and everything sent down his way,
and was scoring almost twice as fast as Jam at the other end.
His only slightly worrying trait was not running his bat in
when taking the quick singles. The pair run some excellent
singles and turning them into 2’s where possible as
the youngsters in the oppo side started to get a bit restless
having taken no wickets. Ed moved towards his maiden 50 for
the club shortly after drinks and with everyone willing him
on, he did it nurdling one to leg. When he was applauded for
his feat, he didn’t raise his bat much to the annoyance
of the spectators!! The 100 run opening partnership was also
reached in the same over (24th). Soon after the only real
chance was put down by the oppo opening batsman dropping the
Cheese at slip – he should really have taken it.
Jam, not wishing to be outshone, began to up his pace and
clubbed a big straight 6 and a couple of boundaries. With
the speed attack over, the batsmen started to really open
up. Ed clattering a flat bat sweeping 6 to fine leg over the
hedge. Heads started to drop even further in the field, and
at the same time so did Kim’s (batting at 3) as the
lad who put down their only catching chance came on to bowl…had
Ed been on strike he might have reached his maiden century…however
it was Jam on strike. Bowling slow full tosses, the over went
4,6,4,4,2 (inches from a 4),4. Leaving the Cazh only 2 required
for victory, which was gained in the next over.
Who would have thought it. A stunning batting performance
by John and Ed – both batted absolutely superbly, only
one chance given against some sharp and accurate bowling.
This was highlighted in the fact apart from the ‘carnage’
over none of the bowlers returned with bad figures. Ed was
just pipped to the post for top scorer finishing on 75 not
out, and Jam on 77 not out. With 22 extras. 174-0
It was back to the pub for a pint or two (The Bridge Inn
– a lovely little pub in the middle of no where), where
the oppo presented us with plentiful sausages, chips and bread.
The Cazh then moved onto the charm offensive to secure the
fixture for the following year…pointing out that we’re
really not that good, and we got lucky….fortunately
this was an easy task – all we had to do was show them
the book from the previous week!!
Excellent game, very nice opposition, super weather and plentiful
tea and ‘meal’ after. What Sunday cricket is all
about!
Additional
Scott - They were fuckin' hilarious. One ashen faced lad
left the field moaning in pain with his little finger at an
alarmingly jaunty angle only to complain when his mates mum
offered to take him to hospital, that they'd all think he
was a fuckin pussy!
It is possible that one or two of em had seen us play at
Clytha from the windows of the house that overlooks the pitch.
Some sort of day release scheme I assume!
All in all a great day.
John - They were all fucking mad, hurling streams of abuse
at each other but laughing & joking and generally very
nice to us. The game was played in a great spirit but I wouldn't
be surprised if one or two of them had webbed feet or six
toes or gills instead of lungs or something!
More to the point, it was a good contest with some tough
but fair cricket played - Ed & I have got the bruises
to prove it! They have a couple of very handy batsmen &
bowlers and on the whole, they were pretty athletic in the
field. On another day, I feel the result could have been very
different (bowled out for 12, maybe!) so to come away with
such a convincing win was testament to the way the Casz performed
with bat, ball & in the field.
Well done, JP, for getting us a game at all.
Ed - If I had looked at the wicket before I answered the
call for opening volunteers, I don't think I would have.
The banter from the fielders was great especially the folorn
shouts of catch it as JF mauled the bowling in the penultimate
over, wish I had gone for single off the last ball of the
preceeding over now!
Thanks to JF to getting me through to my maiden 50 for the
cazh and from the support from the balcony.
Sign me up next season for this one, two teas is what it is
all about.
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