Bride Vale 20/08/23

Bride Vale had struggled to get a full team and only had seven players at the ground with a possible one to come. The Wanderers moved Big Dog and Ben across to make a competitive game with James joining the ranks for the Wanderers. Skipper elected to bat first in a time game. David and Simon opened the innings and looked to be playing confidently until Simon (3) tried to play across the line to a straight ball (from Ben) and was bowled when it did not bounce (12-1). Skipper was given a juicy full-toss to welcome him to the crease, but next over David (3) was undone by a delivery that failed to bounce (15-2). Mike M (1) was trying to play the helicopter shot but against the wrong ball and was also bowled (34-3). James had been making up the numbers in the field for Bride Vale and was making his presence felt when Leo joined Skipper for the 4th wicket partnership. At this stage it was important to develop a partnership with so much time left in the innings but wickets falling away. With fielders closing in Leo played with a straight bat, punching the ball into spaces between the fielders, making Skipper run hard for the runs. He also pulled anything short on the leg-side to the boundary. The pitch still had plenty in it with Skipper lucky to get away with playing and missing with the ball missing leg-stump by a coat of varnish. In the middle part of the innings Skipper was happy to rotate the strike with 11 out of 12 scoring shots singles. James Young came on to bowl for Bride and nearly had Skipper stumped. Although Leo played well, his desire to sweep got the better of him and he top edged on for the keeper to take comfortably (123-4). Mike H (0) offered up a simple catch and Foz (0) was bowled by the returning Ben with a ball that pitched on off but swung in late to take middle (131-6). Mark (4) Looked solid but was run out while trying to keep the strike rotating (141-7). PW squirmed away a couple of singles before he was LBW to Ben (151-8). Skipper then went on the offensive with James (2*) as last man, and hit Ben for 2 big sixes – one pulled to mid-wicket and a drive that landed between the cars at long-on. Skipper finished not out on 92 with the Wanderers 165-8 at tea.

Big Dog opened the Bride Vale innings but was unlucky to be bowled by a delivery from Mark that did not bounce. With Foz deciding he was at the wrong end, David (0-10) came into the attack and the run rate stayed at less than 2 per over. Mark got the second wicket with Simon taking a routine catch (23-2), having already put down one and declined another close in! PW replaced David and was hit for consecutive boundaries with a reverse sweep past Skipper, who was in a dangerous position with PW (0-16) offering too much width. At the start of the last hour it was 38-2 chasing 166. Foz (1-19) replaced Mark at the Pavilion end and he eventually got an important breakthrough with the opener attempting to pull but getting a top edge that Foz took despite not having his glasses on and shouting “I can’t see it!” (55-3). Simon (0-23) had a burst with the ball but was unable to find a good length and had a succession of no-balls and wides. With time running out Skipper brought Mark back at the Pavilion end and turned to Leo from the other. Both looked dangerous at time and it was Leo who got the breakthrough with a ball that swung in late and beat the batsman through and through (89-4). Next over a suicidal run was taken and Simon through the ball in well giving Skipper the easy run out (89-5). The new batsman was returned to the pavilion without scoring by Mark who again profited from the low bounce (90-6). The Bride Vale rearguard action was their skipper and Ben. Ben was keen to play some shots when it was possible, hitting 4 fours in his 23 not out. Try as they could, the Wanderers were unable to get the final wicket and the match was drawn (130-6).

MOM: Skipper

Catch of the Day: Foz without his glasses!

Quote of the Day: David “We seem to be very religious today” after James quoted parts of the Lord’s Prayer while fielding and Skipper said that the “sun shines on the righteous” when a brief moment of sunshine engulfed the pitch.