Match Report vs Consmen 13 August 2013 @ Wenvoe (Skipper Shakey, report Shag)

The Cazh turned up for the last game of the mid week season and for a time it looked as though there might have only been one team in it, as the Consmen were nowhere to be seen until the starting time. So with a delayed start a certainty, Skipper Shakey lost the toss and the Cazh were asked to bat and out went Tesh and Steveo. ‘Out’ being the operative word, as both fell in their respective first overs, playing expansive early shots to accurate deliveries. The next pair – Jesus and Tim set about building a solid foundation.

The bowling was better than the stats show, though there were spells of consistent wides (30 over the course of the innings) which helped boost the Cazh total. The pair complimented each other with Tim dealing mostly in singles and Will in boundaries. They put on a partnership of 60 before Tim was bowled for 14 in the 9th over with the score on 69.

No Casuals innings would be complete without a collapse and although relatively ‘mini’, did give the Consmen an amount of confidence. After striking a lovely cover drive boundary Gazz was bowled, Will perished in the same over taking his eye off the ball for a top score 36, and JT was bowled for a duck.

This brought Richie and Shag to the crease in the 11th over with the score on 80. Both played remarkably sensibly - defending (!!!!) where necessary and attacking the loose ball and were unfortunate not score a few more due to good fielding or fielders ‘being in the way’ of the boundary, and so looked to rotate the strike where ever possible. Apart from a few telepathic calls for runs, and some good deliveries from the left armer, the only real memorable point was the face high full toss to shag who somehow managed to swat it away for 6 followed by a brief discussion with the keeper as what constituted as a ‘no ball’.

With the late start, cloud cover, slow over rate and extras by this time the innings should have closed and the Consmen should have been batting, however, when Richie departed in the 17th over for 19, the score was on 130 and Shakey made his way out. The remaining overs dealt mainly in singles, 2’s and wides. Shakey finished on 8 not out and Dan 33 no, setting the target of 157 to win.

Tesh – 1
Steveo – 0
Tim – 14
Will W-M – 36
Gazz T – 4
Richie – 19
Jonni T – 0
Dan – 33 no
Shakey – 8no
Paul/Matt H DNB
Extras – 41

With the light already fading, the Cazh took to the field and waited for the batsmen, Jonni and Pablo opening the bowling. Jonni went for a couple of 4’s in the first over, but came back with a wicket in the second – caught well by Gazz at mid-off. Pablo bowled a maiden to start and went only for 2 in the second, the third snared the wicket of the Consmen’s dangerman opener, unfortunately for him called through for a second run by his partner and was easily run out by Shag. Paul picked up a wicket bowled in his fourth over. The score on about 25 from 7 overs for 3.

Dan took over from Jonni after 2 overs and took wickets in his 2nd and 3rd overs, the first a faint nick to keeper Will and the batsman walked and the other bowled. Matt Hemsley bowled the next with Steveo the other end, both not going for many runs, though Matt struggled with his line until the second over when he surprised the batsman with a straight one and bowled him.

By this time, it made no difference what colour the ball was – it was dark!! Richie replaced Matt and Jonni came back to replaced Steveo. Richie picked up a wicket as did Jonni both caught by Will. Tim finished off the last over. Consmen finished on 105-9 at 8.45...

Jonni T – 4overs-1maiden-20runs-2wickets
Paul – 4-1-9-1
Dan – 3-0-10-2
Matt H – 3-0-12-1
Steveo – 2-0-13-0
Richie -2-0-9-1
Tesh -1-0-7-1
Tim – 1-0-9-1

A satisfying victory and end to the Willow league campaign for another season against friendly opposition. Past Casual (94/5) - Kevin Holdaway was patrolling the boundary in a spectator capacity to make sure we hadn’t turned to shite before hoping to resurrect his cricketing days once again next season.

Drinks were had in the Wenvoe arms where talk of balls and DRS ensued.

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