Match Report vs Orchestra - 11 August 2021 @ Pontcanna (Skipper Rob, report Steve B)

Casuals batted first against Orchestra on an overcast, drizzly evening on Pontcanna Fields. Will and Steveo formed the unorthodox opening partnership and the usual ‘how many balls will Steveo last?’ game had him surviving 10 balls at best. However, Steveo had clearly had his Weetabix and confidently swatted the pink ball around the field finding the boundary regularly. Will started steadily but with Steveo having struck fear into the hearts of at least a couple of the opposition, Orchestra offered Will the single at the end of an over in what must be a Casuals first. Steveo was finally bowled for 22 having given us a strong start.

Steve B joined Will and they kept the scoreboard moving, both finding the boundary and running reasonably hard. Orchestra’s quicker bowlers had a rest and they brought on some slower stuff which kept Will in two minds: a four or a six? He hit a few of both and retired on 52 with the score on 107-1.

Rob joined Steve B and nudged one to the boundary before Steve B was bowled in the final over for 27. Rhys joined Rob to see out the innings. Casuals finished on 125 which felt like a decent score on a tricky pitch which either held up or zipped through depending on how hard it was raining at the time.

Casuals – 125-2 – 18 Overs (reduced from 20)

Will – 52 (ret)
Steveo – 22
Steve B – 27
Rob – 6 (not out)
Rhys – 1 (not out)

Casuals took to the field with uncharacteristic haste, perhaps because the scent of victory was in the air, or more likely because it was getting dark, raining, and the pub was more appealing than a damp park.

Dan found the edge first ball and was unlucky to see it fly through backward point. Maxi followed Dan’s tight 1st over with a few looseners before getting one on target and bowling the opener for 4. Dan completed a very economic spell with a wicket in his 4th over. Meanwhile, Maxi had been busy at the other end picking up 3 more wickets: 1 bowled and 2 caught behind by Jim. Goff bowled a couple of tight overs with Shakey starting well at the other end and taking the wicket of their number 6 before being attacked a bit in his third over.

The fielding had been a mixed bag with a couple of misfields (despite the skipper regularly demonstrating a textbook long barrier) but the highlight came in Patrick’s 2nd over when he forced a mistake from the batsman who popped the ball up in the air. It looked like the batsman was going to get away with it until Jim screamed “not tonight!” and leapt through the air like a Salmon returning to spawn, taking the catch at full stretch. It capped off a very tidy performance from Jim behind the stumps.

Goff finished off the innings bowling some quick stuff at an old man in the dark. Orchestra never really looked threatening and we kept the pressure up with some good performances in difficult conditions. A good win for the Casuals which launched us up the table to finish the season in 8th place.

Dan – 4–11-1
Maxi – 4-26-4
Goff – 4-16-0
Shakes – 4-29-1
Pat – 2-8-1

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