Match Report vs Medics 19 May 2021 @ Pontcanna (Skipper Rob, report Tim)

For this report you need to cast your mind back to 19th May.

Now if, like me, you struggle to remember what happened yesterday then I could probably make most of this up and you’d probably be none the wiser, but as fabricated reports don’t go down well with editor in chief Dan then I will try and piece together what might have actually happened with the aid of some sparse information from the score book in the hope that he doesn’t remember it better than me.

I can’t really jog your memory about 19th May 2021. It won’t go down as a particularly memorable day - unless of course you’re Naomi Campbell who gave birth aged 50, you’re the Queen whose Corgi puppy died, you’re Swiss – as Switzerland won the second Eurovision semi final or you’re Francis Gimblett who was holding an event in Covent Garden to mark the publication of his book ‘Gimblett’s Guide to the Best of British Cheeses – British Artisan Cheese and Their Producers’ (£10 entry including a glass of wine or a soft drink and cheese ‘samples’), but as the Casuals assembled at Pontcanna they were hoping for a first win of the season having suffered a loss, a cancellation and an abandonment in their three previous outings.

Whereas the Cazh XI had in fact managed to muster just about in time for the scheduled 6pm start time (bar Martin who in fairness was a last minute call up?) the same could not be said for the Medics who were decidedly short on numbers and, as the minutes ticked by amidst increasing impatience from SteveO (who else?), the captains agreed that the Medics would bat first in the hope that their still sparse ranks would fill up as their allotted 18 overs ticked by.

Dan got the Cazh off to the perfect start with a wicket from the first ball of the innings, but some quick scoring saw the Medics reach 17 off the first two overs. Dan kept the third over tight, conceding just a single before Dave White, pulling off a brilliant caught and bowled, and inexplicably Tim with a run out, reduced Medics to 18-3. The Cazh had their tails up and wickets continued to fall with almost metronomic regularity, Dave taking four from his four overs and Dan two. First change saw Rob come on and immediately make an impact, and by the midpoint of the innings the ten men of the Medics were 34-8.

Normally you’d back the Casuals to be chasing a sub 50 score, but given the confusion around the start of the Medics’ innings it was entirely probable that the last pair would put on a stand of some sort. They could clearly bat, and their position in the order was obviously a result of their late arrival (or late call up…?) and in scenes reminiscent of something out of Billy’s Boots from 70s comic Tiger and Scorcher the two lads pedalling with all their might across the fields to get to the match in time to bat, duly helped save Medics blushes and get them to 92.

Dan 4-1-13-2
Dave 4-0-14-4
Rob 2-0-15-1
Shakes 4-0-18-0
Goff 4-0-27-0

Martin and Richie opened steadily for the Casuals before the latter fell for 6, heralding a mini collapse as Jared, George, Tim and Martin fell quickly with only 17 on the board. This brought SteveO and captain Rob to the crease with a job to do. They set about their task admirably putting on 43 in the space of 6 overs, nudging the ball around to keep things ticking over as opposed to trying to strike the hefty blows. There were still 33 runs required though when both fell in successive overs bringing Goff and Dan to the crease. Any thoughts of a repeat of their heroics from the Lisvane game a few seasons ago quickly disappeared when Goff fell, caught and bowled for three. Shakes was next in and a partnership of 11 briefly gave the Casuals hope, especially when they saw Shakey run a four – a miracle of biblical proportions. Alas that was to be the highlight of Shakey’s stay at the crease, and with 16 required from the final over and Dan out for 8, Dave was left stranded on 1.

Casuals all out 80.

Martin 6
Richie 6
Jared 1
George 2
Tim 0
SteveO 24
Rob 11
Goff 3
Dan 8
Shakes 4
Dave Not Out 1

Extras 13

An outcome that few would have expected an hour or so earlier, but (in the week where we have celebrated the 30th anniversary of the famous Johnners and Aggers ‘leg over’ comment) the result - coupled with SteveO top scoring, Tim doing anything remotely noteworthy and Shakey running a four go to show that it can be, and often is, a funny old game.

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