Lobsters @ Damerham 19/05/24

Skipper won the toss and elected to bat on a used wicket that could throw up some surprises in a 35 over match. David and James opened the innings, and both looked to have settled into a rhythm when David (5) got an unusual bounce that drifted high over the bowler before his outstretched hand grasped the ball (9-1, 5). Leo batted with James for an over before James (1) was caught in the in-field (13-2, 6). Ben (0) was clean bowled second ball trying to pull to a ball that didn’t get up as much (13-3, 6). Leo then proceeded to ride his luck, looping a casual pull straight to square-leg where the fielder dropped a simple catch. He then did the same thing the following over with the same result! By now Leo was with PW who looked solid, although his running between the wickets was causing him some concern as he tried to keep up with Leo. The calling was indifferent and there were single opportunities left out there. Leo played some fine shots of pure class, mixed in with some Wanderers style hitting! Leo (30) was eventually bowled by a delivery that seemed to kick off the surface with a bit more zip (45-4, 18). With Mike H missing his batting slot due to him sleeping on the far side of the ground, Skipper joined PW just before the drinks break. Skipper cut one four over the covers and pulled one through square-leg but was keener to nudge into a gap for a single. PW (8) tried to pull a delivery that did not bounce much and hit his foot in front of middle stump (60-5, 22). Brett and Skipper was always going to be a key partnership, but unfortunately for the Wanderers, not productive enough. Skipper (19) was caught at mid-wicket when a delivery from the spinner climbed a bit more and his hook was too high on the bat (81-6, 26). Mark (6) crashed a few good shots before he too was caught (88-7, 27). Big Dog (7) looked to be going well despite his physical condition and was keeping Brett company until he was caught (106-8, 31). Foz was finding the conditions difficult, as most did, and couldn’t seem to get off strike to see if Brett could add to his total. Foz (2) was bowled in the last over (121-9) to bring Mike H in for the last 4 balls, which produced no runs.

Foz opened the bowling with a maiden over from the tree end. Mark followed this up with the opening wicket when Ben took a smart catch when positioned on the drive (3-1, 2). Next over saw Foz clatter all three stumps (5-2, 3). Next over started with Skipper taking a sharp catch off Mark (6-3) in a wicket-maiden. Foz (15-2, 5) struck early in the 5th over when Ben took another catch in the drive position (6-4, 5). Ben was nearly in the game shortly afterwards when a tracer-bullet went past him on its way to the boundary. Skipper made a double change as the new batsmen seemed accustomed to the bowling with the score 34-4 from 10 overs. Ben was soon in amongst the action with a strong LBW appeal. Skipper then took a splendid one-handed catch down leg-side after the left-hander gloved one (38-5, 11). Leo (0-18, 3), like many Wanderers bowlers today, bowled some superb deliveries but failed to find the consistency to pressurise the batsmen, who only needed 3.5 runs/over. Brett had a spell that he felt was at the wrong end for him and David replaced Ben (1-20, 4) at the tree end. David’s spell started well with a consistent line and length, matched with some variation of bounce off the pitch. He got the outside edge with a delivery that hit Skipper in the chest before he could make any adjustment. In his next over he had the same outside edge with a delivery that Skipper could handle to claim the seventh wicket with the score on 94. David’s (1-20) next over proved expensive as the Lobsters powered to wards victory. Mark (2-26) and Brett (0-24) came on to try to force the breakthrough but were unsuccessful in doing so and the Lobsters won by 3 wickets with 8 overs to spare.

MOM: Brett – a fine innings as wickets fell around him.

Catch of the day: Ben on the drive.

Quote of the day: Anything over 120 is defendable – not the way the Wanderers bowled and fielded!