Match Report vs Down
Hatherley - Tour match 1 10 September 2022 @ Down Hatherley,
nr Cheltenham (Skipper Rhys, report Pat)
The Casuals arrived at Down Hatherley for the first game of
the 2022 tour in varying states of health, and accompanied
by the buzzing sound of light aircraft and helicopters that
was the underlying soundtrack all afternoon.
Captain for the day Rhys won the toss and to the surprise
of some Cazh opted to field first, with a secret plan to unsettle
the oppo in mind. Following an impeccably observed minute’s
silence in memory of the Queen (twitter evidence suggesting
at least four Casuals were present), the plan was enacted:
Jim opening the bowling off a Bob Willis-esque long run up.
For the first ball. Reverting to more considered short approach
to the crease, Jim was joined on bowling duties by Tour Chip
Convener and Master of Ceremonies Goff.
Tour virgins Rhys and Alex had by this point donned their
obligatory costumes, resplendent in pink tops and leopard
print leggings. Alex mostly modelling this from the recovery
position in between balls, but at least managed to keep his
top on all day in contrast to reports from the end of the
previous evening.
Following a blistering/sedate (delete as appropriate) first
two overs Jim retook his position behind the stump and was
replaced by Dave W. Between Dave and Goff a lid was kept on
the scoring and two of the home batsmen removed to leave them
on 45-2 after 10 overs – albeit this could have been
more with a missed stumping off Dave W that was so far down
the pitch it would have been a run out.
Luvvers came on after Goff from the airfield end and in amongst
peppering the slips (Cheese in particular) with misguided
deliveries, claimed wickets in his first and third overs.
This brought to the crease the well-built (see ‘like
a Brick S*house’) batsmen 5, a former high level rugby
player we were informed. Shakes and Stevo took the bowling
through to the drinks break with a steady trickle of runs
reaching 109-4, and a ‘missed catch’ from Foxy
– no sense of where the ball was and more in danger
of taking it on the top of his head than in his hands.
The following overs brought 3 quick wickets to leave Down
Hatherley in the precarious sounding position of 140-7, with
the main threat to the Casuals seeming to come from some wayward
throws in the field (skipper Rhys directing a return to the
‘keeper straight at Patrick).
However, the Cazh who had spoofed an X on the previous evening
had informed some of the team ‘star player coming in
at 8’ and this turned out to be unfortunately accurate.
After a costly drop by Cheese when he was in single figures,
the star batsman set about the later stages of the Casuals
bowling, targeting the boundaries off Cheese, Patrick and
Alex, (although taking it easy on Foxy on account of his age),
and including a potentially Cazh record setting over of 32,
which had Stevo getting progressively more irate on the long
on boundary. Having collided with Goffy trying to save a four
in the previous over, the fifth maximum prompted a Stevo-special
particularly loud 4 letter ‘see you next Tuesday’
which turned the air blue, and the faces of the spectating
families red. After batsman 8 retired out on 101 from 48 balls,
the final two wickets fell to leave an imposing target of
269.
Bowling
Jim 2-0-16-0
Goff 5-0-12-2
Dave W 6-0-31-1
Luvvers 4-0-24-2
Shakes 5-0-33-1
Stevo 4-0-32-2
Patrick 3-0-48-0
Cheese 4-0-35-1
Foxy 3-0-18-0
Alex 2-0-17-0
Catches Luvvers, Jim, Patrick, Rhys x 2
Tea was a DIY affair, mostly taken from the best that Cheltenham’s
supermarkets could offer. Cheese and Alex opened the batting
for the Casuals, the former starting steadily despite the
hostile bowling and plentiful slip cordon, and Alex succeeding
on his third attempt to run himself out trying for a quick
single to the ‘star player’ (and then retaking
his varying sitting/lying positions for a portion of the rest
of the innings). Luvvers and Cheese saw off the tricky opening
period and made good progress for the next 27 overs, much
to the relief of many of the tourists, reaching 103-1 at drinks
and 173-1 with 10 overs to go.
With the required run rate climbing, the familiar clatter
of Cazh wickets began. Cheese fell for 63, Luvvers for 95
followed by Jim, Stevo, Dave W and Goff for single figures,
although all avoiding the tour duck chip. Rhys and Patrick
also made enough runs to miss out on the honour/punishment
taking the final score past 200 but well short of the hosts’
total.
Cheese caught 63
Alex run out 9
Luvvers caught 95
Jim caught 2
Stevo caught 1
Rhys not out 9
Dave W caught 2
Goff bowled 1
Patrick not out 7
Total 201-7
After post match beers, the Casuals headed back to Cheltenham
for the counting of chips and further spoofing…
back
|
