Match Report vs Abercarn
21 July 2024 @ Abercarn (Skipper Steveo, Report Dan)
The Casuals turned up on the lovely sunny Sunday afternoon,
all arrived on time as Steve O marched out with the oppo captain
to toss, the surrounding casuals asking him if he knew what
he was doing he said yes, and continued to stroll out to the
middle, the cazh giving him the ‘batting’ signal.
SteveO returned with a massive smile – he was victorious
– we were batting. The old Cazh saying – which
we have said many times before – “we have a good
line up on paper….” As it turns out there wasn’t
many takers for ‘opener… Bryn had a hangover and
Rupert preferred a bit lower, so Bryn lost and opened with
Jack. Also SteveO hadn’t mentioned until back from the
toss – is that one of Abercarn’s number and playing
today was the league’s top run scorer and wicket taker…
and the team was made up of predominantly first and second
teamers as the previous day was rained off… I’m
sure it’ll be fine!.
Against a surprisingly slow attack Bryn and Jack set off
with lots of lively swishes. However it wasn’t long
before Bryn came a cropper, with a loose waft outside off
connecting with the ball and drifting into the waiting hands
of the slip. For a wicket maiden. Third over Jack decided
to up the pace and made a productive 13 and he was looking
in fine form….. The casuals on the sidelines settled
in for a long afternoon of chatting, drinking squash, eating
the BYO tea (before tea) and watching some sublime cricket…however
that was soon too take a side note with Jack also wafting
outside off stump and keenly taken by first slip. Robbie S
partnered Jack for a few balls and then partnered Liam F for
a few more. At this stage on the sidelines , Skipper Steveo
started to get a bit jittery, realising he might be in quite
soon and not being in the best of forms – he hurriedly
called Pat in from umpiring and told Robbie to pad up too…
however, Rupert was not part of the decision making process
and after a very expansive drive, which he missed and was
bowled by the medium/slow pace. SteveO had to go in…and
returned quite quickly afterwards (4 balls if you're interested),
fortunately Pat had managed to get his pads on. Oh dear, the
cazh were suddenly in a bit of trouble…at 36-4 of 8
overs. Pat defended the first few balls, then was very unlucky
to get the best ball of the day (so far) with the bowler turning
up the crank and bowling a sharp straight one taking his middle
stump. 41-5 off 10.
The day was suddenly looking as though it might be over very
quickly. Fortunately Robs fingers were working better than
they had been and he and Liam F began to build a steady partnership…until
Laim looped one to midwicket. 66-6 off 14. Dan in at 8 also
went off like a rocket , dealing mainly in boundaries, until
also became unstuck against a slow full toss, hooking round
the corner into the hands of a fielder hiding behind the square
leg umpire. 91-7 off 18. Sanay next in with Rob and this pair
started to build. Sanay dealing mostly in dots (too many to
count) and Rob hitting some lovely shots which got more confident
with time, putting away the bad balls that were on offer.
That offer soon evaporated as number 66 the leagues top wicket
taker came on to bowl. Coming off his 3 pace run up, Sanay
played an expansive drive, missed it, and was taken by the
keeper standing 15 yards away and watched by the now 3 slips.
The only benefit of someone this good – is they know
where it is going to go and thankfully he wasn’t temped
to put one in short – else the pair could have been
in trouble/hospital.
The majority of the runs now coming from the other end, Rob
passed his 50 and the cazh total was looking a lot better.
Rob even hit no66 for 4 with a loverly shot, this only prompted
the bowler to come off his longer 30 yard run up which Rob
defended very well and soon it was the end of his spell with
no wickets falling. Just when the pressure was off, Sanay
was the victim of a fantastic direct hit in the 35th over.
Nylon Pylon cam and went caught and Goffy last man in tried
to get stumped and dramatically run out, but was eventually
bowled in the 38th over. 181ao - a fantastic recovery thanks
almost totally to Rob and Sanay.
Bryn W – 1ct
Jack B - 23ct
Rob S – 8b
Liam F – 13ct
SteveO – 0ct
Pat D – 1b
Rob O – 72 NO
Dan L – 17ct
Sanay G – 20ro
Liam W – 0ct
Goff D – 3b
181ao. 37.1 overs
Both teams spent 20 minutes either munching through whatever
savouries they had brought for tea of whatever was remaining,
it was on to the Abercarn inngings. At tea is was discussed
that Abercarn may move around their batting line up with some
stronger batters coming further down – including no66.
So with Dan coming from the negotiated wind assisted end,
Goffy battled into the wind from the Cardiff end, fortunately
the wind stifled his moaning being heard. Dan started with
a maiden with the opener playing missing everything that wasn't
on the stumps, then hitting the ones that were (I suppose
you can’t really moan about that!), however he did manage
to get one through in the next and got the first wicket. He
then got the next caught by Goffy in slip after a good grab
and juggle. Goffy bowled a good spell without reward. It was
also suggested that Robbie S was given the go given he didn't
have much of a bat, in nets he was quite rapid, though he
hadn’t bowled since nets 4 months ago, so he was given
a few protective fielders, but no need he bowled excellently
during his four over spell only going for 12. Pat was given
the ‘into the wind’ duty and bowled well, the
occasional lose ful leg one getting pushed to the boundary.
Steve O and Sanay next change , keeping the lid on Abercarn,
though they were ticking along nicely.
At drinks Goffy’s new initiative was to play "no
wicket cricket" – don’t tempt no66 out of
the hutch….either Sanay missed this or actually the
opener missed a good spinning delivery, no66 came in in the
23rd over with their score on 89. Steveo decided his spell
should come to an end and brought Nylon Pylon on. Although
going for 39 off his 4 overs – with 2 balls being fished
out of the hidden river in the trees and one staying there
for ever more, Laim did manage to get no66 off strike and
bowled the no4, got an excellent catch from Jack at keeper
and bowled one of the newcomers with another straight one.
Dan was brought back on to ruin his figures against 66 who
hit him for a 6 and a boundary. Then no66 was retired at 55…
with the game almost over. This gave a chance for Dan to bowl
at a youth and energetically called for an lbw (that was given..it
was an easy decision), and Bryn was asked to have a bowl and
got the other youth out first ball, needing to bring back
no66 without pads or box to run for the final run required
(not on strike) in the 33rd over. An excellent days cricket,
really good fun and well done to Abercarn for switching their
bowling attack around and batting order and making a game
of it, plus Robbie for to getting us to a half decent total.
We had a beer on the lawn and enjoyed the sunshine before
saying our goodbyes before tottering off home.
Dan L 6-2-31-3
Goff D 4-0-19-0
Rob S 4-0-12-0
Pat D 4-0-18-0
Steve O 4-0-22-0
Sanay G 6-0-35-1
Liam W 4-0-39-3
Bryn W 0.2-0-4-1
Catches Goff, Jack and Bryn
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