Fonthill Park 11/05/23

After overnight rain, the forecast for further heavy showers and drizzle while in the Lamb Inn at lunchtime, it was a relief to be able to start a 35 overs match with the skipper winning the toss and electing to bat.  David and Ben opened the innings and progress was steady.  Ben (9) was the first to be out trying to lift a straight ball over mid-wicket and missing it (23-1, 8 overs).  David (11)  had played a couple of aggressive shots before he was caught to bring Mike M to join Tommy (33-1, 10 overs).  Tommy (8) was looking in good shape before offering a simple catch to mid-on (57-3, 14 overs).  Although in for 20 balls, Mike (4) only had 1 scoring delivery, clattering the ball to long-on before he was bowled by a straight full delivery (62-4, 16 overs).  The two Simons were together with Skipper off the mark with a four.  It was a great disappointment that the partnership did not develop with Skipper (12) getting a bottom edge to play-on (74-5, 18 overs).  Brett started conservatively ensuring t=he had the feel of the wicket before opening his shoulders.  Simon (10) never looked very settled and when he was caught at 88-6 the Wanderers were in trouble.  Leo got a leading edge back to the bowler without scoring (94-7) and Mike H lasted 23 minutes, with Brett farming the strike with ease and clattering boundaries including a big six to cow-corner.  Mike departed without score (114-8) bringing Foz to join Brett for the last 5 overs.  Into the last over and Brett (39*) took a single off the first ball.  Foz (5) was caught trying to force a single with PW bowled first ball with a straight delivery.  139 all out.

Ben and Leo opened the bowling and restricted the openers to just 15 runs from the opening 8 overs.  Leo (0-17) was getting the ball to swing into the batsmen up the hill and get some seam movement away, threatening the outside edge on numerous occasions.  Ben (0-18) was on fire causing considerable difficulty by the accuracy of his in-swinging deliveries and was backed up by some quality fielding – Mike H diving several times in the gully saving four.  Brett came into the attack from the tree end and was not on the same accuracy as normal.  Simon came on trying to break the opening partnership and was close to doing so with some strong leg-spin.  It wasn’t until the 22^nd over until Simon (2-28) achieved the breakthrough, with Foz taking a spectacular diving catch (when a standard catch was available).  The incoming batsman hit a four and then offered a catch to Ben at mid-wicket which was comfortably taken (79-2, 23 overs).  David replaced Brett and was getting the ball in just the right areas.  He got a fine edge from the opener down leg-side that Skipper could not hold.  Foz came on at the Pavilion end, taking over from Simon, but his spell was cut short.  When fielding a ball at point from David, it bounced viciously and hit Foz straight on the nose.  After an extensive break to ensure he was treated appropriately, the runs were knocked off with ease for an 8-wicket victory.

MOM: Brett – the innings holding the Wanderers together.

Catch of the day: Foz – for the drama!

Quote of the day: So where did the ball hit you?