Match Report vs Ponthir
28 July 2019 @ Ponthir (Skipper and report Dan)
The Cazh rolled up at the nice-looking ground of Ponthir
on a winning streak of 8. Goffy and Britpop were either lost
or late but Captain Dan lost the toss and the Cazh were asked
to field first. Most of the team had already read the match
report of our previous visit here…and it wasn’t
pleasant reading – all out for 40 in 2014. We were up
to a full compliment into the 4th over. Dan and Goffy opened
up the bowling and the 2 first teamers from Ponthir set up
their stall. Most shots selected were punchy offside drives,
so the Cazh beefed up those areas. VC Will was keen to have
2 slips in for Goffy (coming down the hill) and there were
some deliveries that came through nicely (though not to second
slip), but others were a little too short or wide and the
larger of the two batsman enjoyed driving it through the v
and up the relatively steep slope. Goffy was unlucky not to
get one relatively early but Jim ‘Hands’ wasn’t
able to keep it in his gloves. Dan had a little more success
at keeping the scoring shots down, though he was often bowling
at the other chap.. However, Dan did get the breakthrough
in the 10th over, the main batsman edging one through to Super
Hands. Fortunately, the umpire also heard the snick as the
batsman didn’t and he was out on 50. Dan picked up the
other opener playing on 2 overs later. The scoreboard had
raced up to 60 odd off 8, but then slowed. Goffy was replaced
by Luvvers, now bowling at the 2 new batsmen. Dan bowled through.
Luvvers kept the two batsmen pinned down, helped by some
excellent fielding especially from britpop in the covers and
got the next wicket of the no3 who hadn’t really been
going for it, but lashed out at one and hit a steepling thick
edge which was taken by Dan at square leg. There was some
varying line and length dished up by shakey, some of which
was dined out on, but he did entice the number 4 to slap one
towards Jesus who gratefully received it, followed quickly
by the new bat, an almost identical shot and result. After
about 28 overs the score had slowed down loads and the score
was about 120. Luvvers had been very unlucky not to pick up
another, edged and taken by Hands, but the umpire nor batsman
admitted to hearing this one, and in the final over Shakey
dived in slips and would have been a certain Champagne moment
had he not shelled it. This induced a number of injures for
Shakes – hand, elbow and strangely leg. It looked as
though he wouldn’t be able to complete his spell, but
miraculously he regained fitness to bowl continue through
to 8. Martin replaced Luvvers down the hill, Tesh replaced
Shakey. The latst batsman to arrive at the crease did look
like he was going to have more of a ‘go’ and he
did. Even with the difficult to get away occasionally bowled
lower bouncer from Moon Shine, he still manged to drive it
up the hill. Tesh bowled some good teasing length deliveries
but with a vast outfield sometimes it proved just too big
to patrol. Goffy returned to finish off his spell and Britpop
took a fine catch on the hill. Ponthir finished on a decent
total of 209-6. In about the 32nd over it looked like 170
would be the end score, but they really opened up.
Dan 8-2-20-2
Goffy 8-0-67-1
Luvvers 8-3-14-1
Shakey 8-2-34-2
Martin 4-0-32-0
Tesh 4-0-40-0
8 extras
Catches – James, Dan, Darren, WMW x2
Tea was taken, and was plentiful and nice – lots of
savoury, plus scones, jam and cream and fantastic homemade
chocolate brownies.
Rob and Luvvers opened up and Ponthir opened with pace down
the hill and spin from the other. Both batsmen were wary to
start with, assuming the ball was turning a bit from the spinner.
There were a lot of dot balls then a flurry of boundaries
before returning to dots. With the score of 28, Rob was incredibly
unlucky – defending the spin, he didn’t suppress
it enough and the ball deflected on the ground and rolled
slowly toward the stumps and finally dislodged the bail. Jesus
joined Luvvers and the pair continued to be watchful. The
first change bowler down the hill did not bowl badly but 3rd
over lost the line factionally and Luvvers dispatched for
another 4 boundaries, suddenly the Cazh were back up with
the rate. 66 off 13. What should have been a platform to kick
on, Luvvers unfortunately next over was in (as he said) 4
minds what to do and ended up chipping back to mid-off out
on 49. Tesh next to the middle, and to be fair scratched around
a bit before being bowled, bringing Britpop to the crease.
A new change of bowler was then the undoing of Jesus, a funny
action – very wristy, but the seam remained bolt upright.
Will switched off to a low one and was bowled. Just before
drinks Rich was given out lbw to a 50/50 appeal (could just
have easily gone over the top as much as it could have hit).
The Cazh now 85-5 after 20.
Britpop and Moonshine put on a decent partnership of 27,
with some excellent running, until Martin was caught out.
James next to the middle to hopefully emulate his performance
against Wick the previous week. It was Darren however, that
fell in the next over, bowled by the young spinner. The cazh
118-7 off 28. Dan came out with the long handle and made it
interesting, Ponthir for a while looked a bit nervous, so
much so that they brought on one of their quicker bowlers
on for the last 4 overs. James went the other end caught,
then the quickie picked up the last 2 wickets of Goffy and
Shakey, and Dan finished not out on 36. The Cazh made it respectable
finishing on 170ao off 39overs.
Rob o – b 5
Luvvers – ct 49
WMW – b 21
Tesh – b 2
Darren – b 19
Rich – lbw 0
Martin – ct 10
James – ct 8
Dan l – no 36
Goffy – b 2
Shakey b 4
We stayed for a chat and a pint with the oppo in the evening
sunshine before heading home, the streak now over, but the
final to look forward to.
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