Coombe Bissett 11/05/24

The season began under blue skies in Wiltshire. Most met in the Fox and Goose pre-match. The skipper started the season by losing the toss and the Wanderers were asked to field first. With Brett nursing a nasty foot injury from the previous day and unable to bowl, Mark opened the bowling from Shutts Lane end with Ben from the top end. It was Ben who made the breakthrough in the 6th over with a strong LBW shout being given, despite the constellation from the batsman (21-1). In his next over there were no complaints when he clattered the stumps to dismiss the other opening batsman (24-2, 8). Stu replaced Mark (who was unlucky not to have a caught behind given) from the Shutts Lane end (fresh with his wound from the boundary flag that had attacked him the previous day) with Leo replacing Ben. Stu struggled with line and length with David coming into the attack. 3 balls in and he claimed his wicket with the left-hander scooping high towards Skipper at extra-cover. Despite the sun, Skipper held on (49-3, 13). Leo was bowling beautifully; regularly beating the outside edge of the bat with no reward. David (1-25 from 5) bowled well but fell victim to bowling straight with the slope enabling the batsman to work it to leg on occasion. Foz was on the money creating difficulty from the outset and got his reward when a low full-toss was looped up to Skipper at mid-off, who saw the ball late but held on low in front of him (100-4, 24). In his next over he got his next victim with an edge through to Big Dog (101-5, 26). Mark came back from the Shutts Lane and took a wicket with some quick thinking when the ball was played straight back to him and he hit the stumps with a shy while the batsman still had his bat in the air (121-6, 28). The Brill (0-38) had another spell, this time from the top end but without any change in fortune. Meanwhile, Mike H was on fire patrolling the slope diving to both sides. Leo (0-43) had another spell which proved to be more expensive with an in-form batsman at the crease. Ben changed ends and again dislodged the stumps (169-7, 35). Foz (2-25) had a recall before James came on to bowl the final 2 overs from the top end. The pressure was on with the on-strike batsman needing 11 from the final over to complete his century. He refused several singles before he got a four with a mis-judged fielding on the boundary from Stu. The final 2 balls were dots! 223-7

David (2) was given LBW third ball bringing Skipper in to join Ben in the first over of the Wanderers’ reply. Skipper drove the first delivery down the ground for 4 before Ben dispatched the opening 2 balls next over for 4. These two started to build a partnership and watched carefully as the bowlers found a consistent line and length. Skipper was never far away from his next boundary and hit the spinner into the next field over deep mid-wicket, following it up with a four in the same location. Ben (15) had supported Skipper well, adding a partnership of 56, before he was caught (58-2, 12). Leo (18) came in and was soon playing some superb shots and leaving when required. He even had Skipper struggling to make a quick single! The change of bowling saw Leo get tied up with a cracking delivery, but the 42 run partnership had taken the score to 100 in 18 overs. Foz (4) cracked a four before he had a delivery clip the top of the off bail (127-4, 21). Brett was slow to get going (playing through his pain) but found a rhythm. Skipper (85) had ridden his luck – dropped at slip and 2 top edges into space – but was unfortunate to be stumped out with a delivery the went down leg-side

and hit the keeper’s pads, ricocheting onto the stumps. The innings included 3 sixes and 9 fours and had taken the score to 136-5 from 23 overs. Stu (3) never looked at ease at the crease and when he was bowled Mark went out determined to push for victory. The 40 runs they put on together made the game look exciting. Mark (12) tried a big hit but missed it and was stumped. Brett (41) was LBW in the same over and the game had slipped away. Big Dog (2) tried to pull when it wasn’t on to keep runs flowing which brought Mike H and James (0no) together to provide the late entertainment. Both were determined not to concede their wicket and Mike (7no) hit a glorious four over mid-on. After the 40 over the Wanderers had amassed 205-9.

MOM: Skipper got the team into a position where an unlikely victory seemed possible.

Catch of the day: Skipper looking into the sun.

Quote of the day: Something to do with a ventriloquist, James and his boss?