Match Report vs National
Orchestra of Wales 04 June 2024 @ Wenvoe (Skipper Jim,
Report Steve B)
There was a fine drizzle at Wenvoe when the teams arrived
but with both teams keen to avoid another washout and the
rain forecast to clear, we got ready and made a start shortly
after 6.
Dan opened from the fat-crease end. NOW had a very good opening
bat who set to work quickly hitting well down the ground for
some early boundaries. Maxi opened from the other end and
kept a lid on things.
Dan made the early breakthrough in his second over, bowling
the less assured opening batter. 18-1.
NOW’s number 3 joined the opener and they kept the
scoring ticking along, both finding the boundary on a number
of occasions. It took a bit of Lewis magic in his 4th over
to break the dangerous looking partnership – bowling
the opener with one that jagged back from outside off and
clipped the top of the stumps. Great stuff. 43-2.
Dan and Maxi finished their 4 overs with the score on around
54-2. In an obvious effort to show off the Casuals’
physical diversity, Jim brought on the Pylon from one end
and DT from the other.
NOW’s number 3 was starting to do some damage until
he fell for DT’s straight-one in his 2nd over. 72-3.
Liam was straight on the money with good accurate pace bowling
and got his reward in his 3rd over, bowling their number 5
before DT’s dreaded straight-one took the scalp of NOW’s
number 4 in Dave’s final over.
Fred and Liam finished up with a few overs each, generally
doing a good job of keeping a lid on things.
A couple of catches went down: the trickier one to Kev and
a slightly more regulation one to Steveo whose customary response
to the drop confirmed that it will still be some years before
the Casuals consider allowing junior members.
Perhaps Steveo would blame the drop on the fact that he was
carrying Will’s bath towel around his neck for most
of the innings.
So NOW finished on 124-5 after 20 overs. It felt like a decent
score in the conditions but chaseable.
D Lewis 4-0-28-2
M Cullen 4-0-25-0
L Warren 4-0-16-1
D Thomas 4-0-24-2
F Grassam 2-0-14-0
L Forster 2-0-12-0
Steve B and Kev J opened for the Casuals. The opening bowlers
were both pretty accurate but Steve B found some success driving
past the bowlers and finding the boundary fairly regularly.
The openers were replaced by some mixed stodgy stuff that
was tricky to get away and as a result the scoring started
to slow down.
The opening partnership ended in the 12th when Kev was bowled
for 8 while trying to push forward. Casuals on 61-1 with some
work still to do.
WMW in at number 3. Loopy full toss first ball, swing, gloved,
caught behind.
No reason to panic yet as Steve B was still going well on
40 when Steveo walked out at number 4. It hasn’t been
Steveo’s strongest start to the season with the bat
and he was obviously keen to make his mark. He hung around
for a few balls, was dropped in the offside before being bowled
shortly after. For those counting, the scorebook suggests
he faced 4 balls but to be fair, it felt like at least half
a dozen.
Casuals suddenly 68-3 in the 14th and 125 looking trickier.
Fred came in at 5 and was positive from the start, picking
up plenty of 2’s and a couple of consecutive boundaries.
Steve B had retired on 52 bringing Liam F in to join Fred.
The runs required started to mount but the Casuals were just
about staying in touch. However, a very tight over from NOW
left us with around 18 needed from final over. Fred started
well with a 3 but Liam was out next ball bringing Jim to the
crease with too much to do. Casuals ended on 114 – 4.
A good close game played in good spirits, but a first league
defeat for the 2024 season.
Steve B - 52 not out
Kev J – 8 – Bowled
WMW – 0 – Caught
Steveo – 3 – Bowled
Fred – 30 not out
Liam – 6 – Caught
Jim – 1 not out
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