Match Report vs Barry
West End 22 May 2022 @ The Island (Skipper Richie,
report Rob)
The Cazh headed to the Island for the first time since 2019.
Except that’s not quite true. Last year an eager bregande
of Casuals arrived at the ground just as the skies opened.
The day wasn’t wasted, some would say it was significantly
improved, as we ended up at the Westies where we ate all their
sandwiches and loads of crips. A perfect day.
Back to 2022. After the usual late arrivals, we noticed that
some kind soul had cut a strip in the middle of the vast expanse
rather than the usual strip towards the far side. They’d
also pushed the boundary back even further than normal. Sadists!
Result = instead of the usual one sided gigantic boundary,
we had two enormous boundaries but only one Luvvers to cover
the vast expanse.
Skipper Richie won the first Cazh toss of the season and
put us in. Luvvers and SteveO opening: a good mix of ability
and experience (insert your favourite jokes here).
Luvvers was playing within himself, playing the Shaky dab
and rotating things as the bright pink Dukes was doing a bit.
The pitch looked uneven and this proved to be true as we progressed,
so a solid and steady start was wise. Steve was swiping away
at the other end. The feet were moving (for a change) but
they were in the air rather than the orthodox forwards and
backwards, leading to a bizarre Brian Lara comparison from
the idiot writing this report.
The pair stayed together until the 9th over (or Steves 26th
delivery, Bingo fans), when a loopy flighty thing deceived
him, playing round one that bowled him, bringing ‘6th
Ball Will’ to the crease. He looked a bit out of sorts,
but very determined to hang about. The bowling throughout
had been very tight, and this continued through the regular
bowling changes. He offered several difficult chances to the
bowler and slip, but the ball kept vanishing in to the large
outfield.
Off the field, Steve had decided to cheer himself up and
headed off to the tactically placed burger van at cow corner.
Their scorer (drinking his 5th IPA) kindly pointed out:
It’s the first time Steve had moved his feet all day.
Everyone in the queue seemed to know each other, but we weren’t
sure if they were neighbours or had waited so long that they’d
become friends. At the third request, and after a lot of swearing
and muttering, the burger was put on the grill, and (eventually)
looked amazing.
Luvvers passed 50, working well with Will. They put on 99
before Luvvers cut one to ‘fly-slip’. Will fell
in the next over, caught at mid-off just shy of his 50. 123/3
with 10 overs left. Would we pile on the runs? No. The bowling
at the one end improved, leaving Rich (bowled off a slower
one for 6), Bryn (18 not out on debut) and Rob (4 not out)
to scratch about, finishing on 152/4. Solid but probably 30
runs light?
Walking off the field, the oppo were congratulating themselves
on their best bowling and fielding display they could remember,
so that puts things in perspective.
G. Loveridge – 55 Ct
S. O’Reilly – 7 Bowled
W. Mason-Wilkes – 48 Ct
B. Wilkes – 18 not out
R. Holliday – 6 Bowled
R. Owens – 4 not out
G. Day DNB
Teja DNB
M. Stephens DNB
P. Stephens DNB
J. Prior DNB
Rather stuffed, the Cazh took to the field. Skipper Rich
followed a similar approach to the West End with each bowler
getting 5 overs to start. We started as they started - Goffy
and Shakes bowled 10 very tight overs (27/0) with Luvvers
and Teja (on debut) taking over. In his second over, Shakes
took a good catch at mid-off from Teja. 46/1.
West End pootled about until the 16th when the new batsmen
realised he was late for a pool tournament, as this is when
the game changed. The wicket was still hard to play, but anything
and everything was swiped at, with the run rate increasing.
Chances were there but they went over people or didn’t
stick. 70/1 at drinks.
Rob and Foxy took over, both getting some tap by Hurricane
Higgins. In the 27th their opener smashed one back at Rob
who caught it off the ankles in an act of self-defence / no
time to evade. In his next over a simpler C&B chance was
taken (after being hit for 6 in to a tree) with the batter
happy to be running off to play pool. 119/3.
The game was up, but we plugged away, dreaming of sandwiches
and crisps. Pabs coming on for Foxy. He picked up the new
batsmen in his 4th over with Will taking a good stumping.
142/4.
They rattled off the last of the runs quickly, taking a shining
to Goffs bowling in particular which seemed harsh after his
opening spell excellence.
A respectable defeat. We never got going on a difficult surface
but they bowled and fielded very well.
G. Day 6.4 – 1 – 32 – 0
M. Stephens 5 – 1 – 12 – 0
G. Loveridge 5 – 1 -28 – 0
Teja 5 – 1 – 15 – 1
R. Owens 5 – 0 – 27 - 2
J. Prior 2 – 0 – 12 - 0
P. Stephens 4 – 0 – 23 – 1
Catches: Rob x 2, Shakes.
Stumping: Will
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