Match Report vs Rogerstone
28 April 2019 @ Rogerstone (Skipper and report Dan)
The first game of the 2019 season kicked off against Rogerstone.
The strong all-round 11 were completed by the welcome re-emergence
of Luvvers. The team arrived on time and it was confirmed
that the match would be played on the artificial. Dan had
a shock toss win, and in a fit of panic elected to bat –
the united team response was “are you looking for an
early finish?”…
Rob and Tesh opened up against an accurate seam bowler and
a young girl. The pair were watch full for the first few overs.
In the 3rd Rob fended off a shortish delivery that lifted
and the next ball looked to do the same but died in the air
and knocked off middle stump. 10-1. Jesus next in and continued
the watchful start. Where the line drifted, more expansive
shots were played, the longish outfield grass made it difficult
to find the boundaries – some of which were quite long,
plus the field placement stopped quite a few runs. Stead progress
had been made, but the first change bowler got the prize wicket
of Will – top edging one straight to the keeper. 38-2.
Steve B (or Beef as his suggested new nickname …the
scorer refused to listen to DT’s insistence that the
surname was Biggs and ‘Beef’ was entered into
the scorebook) joined Tesh and looked to build an innings.
The new bowlers – one sharp, the other accurate kept
the score down, in fact between overs 11 and 21 only 18 runs
were scored. 56-2-21 overs.
The spell end of the quickie and the loss of accuracy of
the other bowler saw the run rate pick up in the 22nd. The
next 7 overs took the score beyond 100 with some fine shots
by Tesh and Beef. By this time the second of the 2 young girls
was bowling and a few boundaries had been scored to the shorter
leg side boundary. Beef managed to get one over for a flat
6, but on trying to replicate didn’t quite time it and
holed out for 28. Luvvers joined Tesh and briefly upped the
run rate, unfortunately tried to be a little too cute with
a fine leg glance and was bowled to a good delivery around
the legs. Steveo entered the fray with his usual swashbuckling
elegance until he top edged one which just carried to short
thirdman. Tesh reached his 50. Dave White, with young son
heckling from the sidelines was undone 2nd ball by the returning
opener taking his off stump. Goffy stuck around for an over
or so before going for the heave and being bowled. Dan opened
his account by chipping one over the in field and making Tesh
run his first 3 of the day at a point of his long innings
where his legs were barely functioning. Dan continued to live
dangerously, top edging 2 more (one narrowly missing his face
and converging fielders). Tesh’s determined and fine
innings came to an end in the penultimate over against the
accurate opener caught (66). The opener required one more
wicket for a 5for and Pete was the victim penultimate ball
of the over. This brought DT to the crease and a nervous possible
6for, fortunately the ball missed bat and stump. Last over
saw Dave score a run (technically a drop) and next ball another
top edge by Dan to the same young fielder who hurt her hand
a little more. Dan finished the innings with a boundary. 166-9
off 40. A dogged performance from the Cazh, and potentially
a competitive total.
Rob O – bowled 1
Tesh – bowled 66
Will MW – ct 7
Steve B – ct 28
Luvvers – bowled 11
Steveo – ct 10
Dave W – bowled 0
Goff – bowled 5
Dan – not out 13
Pete O – bowled 0
Dave T – not out 1
Tea was great. Hopefully pictures (for Casual Tea Watch)
were taken to evidence the enormity of it. It must be up there
for contender for tea of the season! The result or the gorge
was that Captain Dan decided to drop himself down the bowling
order and open with Goffy and Dave W. The opening spell of
12 overs didn’t see a wicket taken, but the bowling
was very good and the batsmen showed the respect it deserved.
Goffy did at times ‘mix it up’, but as some of
the fielders commented – if he didn’t know what
was coming, neither did the batsmen! After 12 overs just 30
runs had been scored, with Dave bowling 2 maidens. First change
saw Dan from the pavilion end and Dave T from the other coming
down the hill. Both new bowler’s line was a little off,
both airing on the legside. However, Dan did fire in a wicket
taking ball in his second with the batsman playing on. This
brought in the capable looking quick bowler. He started well
with a boundary, and was lucky to survive after being uncharacteristically
dropped by Will behind the stumps, but he then took on the
arm of Luvvers and regretted it as he was run out. 54-2 off
17. Dave’s line improved, however, it was another legside
delivery that got the wicket of the other opener – pulling
it around the corner to be taken well by Beef at backward
point.
Dan was replaced by Luvvers up the hill who fired in some
excellent deliveries (coupled with a couple shorter/fiery
ones) and Dave finished off his spell with a maiden and another
wicket – stumped by Jesus. This combination dried the
runs up. Rogerstone on 75 -4 off 29overs requiring 92 runs
off the last 11 overs. The Cazh were certainly in the driving
seat, but with a few big overs and some capable batsmen still
to come, the game wasn’t over yet. Pete O and Steveo
were the new change bowlers. Pete started were Dave left off
with the batsman not going for the heave. Steveo started with
a boundary, but then encouraged a massive heave across the
line and getting a full toss wicket bowled. The new batsman
came out firing and the Cazh fielders were asked to step up
to the plate – which they did. Dave, yes, Dave picked
up the next wicket with a runout! It looked close, and part
of me was thinking it was a tactical wicket as the incoming
batsman was more than capable of going large (the lad who
scored his maiden century against us last year). 44 required
from 4 overs. Steveo’s spell was ended and Rob was asked
to bowl at the death. Rob’s first only when for 4, Pete
and the fielders kept the next down as well. Rob then managed
to bowl the centurion. The Cazh won the game the following
over by 17 runs. (149-7)
An excellent victory over a side we haven’t beaten
for 10 years. Excellent batting from Tesh and Steve B, with
some notable cameos. Followed by some very good bowling and
fielding. Dave was seen collecting the ball regularly, Steve
B got peppered at backward point, and Pete was often on the
hoof backing up the fielder and chasing it down. We stopped
behind for a quick pint before heading off home. A good start
to the season against, as always, friendly opposition.
Goffy - 6overs – 0 maidens – 19 runs –
0 wickets
Dave W – 6 –2-10-0
Dan – 6-0-19-1
Dave T – 8-2-20-2
Luvvers – 3-0-5-0
Pete O – 6-0-42-0
Steveo – 3-0-13-1
Rob 2-0-8-1
Runouts – Luvvers & Dave T
Catches – Steve B
stumping – Will MW
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