Panthers 23/06/24

Skipper elected to bat on a good looking wicket that had been used previously. David was in positive form but his partner, Charles (0), got one with a little extra bounce that took a leading edge back to the bowler (2-1, 2). Tommy looked to be well set until he too was caught out by extra bounce and was caught behind for 19 (40-2, 8). Tom was soon making progress, but it was an aggressive strike from David (16), driving high towards cow-corner, that saw Shan take a great catch to bring Skipper to the crease (51-3, 11). A period of consolidation was required from these 2 batsmen to stabilize the innings. Some intelligent running between the wickets, and forceful strikes of poor deliveries, ensured that the scoreboard continued to advance with little or no threat to the partnership. The first chance offered by either batsman was a big drive to long-on by Skipper where the fielder dropped him, allowing the single to bring up his fifty. From this moment on the acceleration was tangible. From 113 at 20 overs, the partnership of 159 was broken when Tom was brilliantly caught in the deep on 54 in the 29th over (210-4). Leo came in and set about making Skipper run faster between the wickets. Skipper (103) hit 5 sixes in his century, including over long-on off the brilliant Shan! Another six brought up the century and he retired to get a rest (232-5, 30)! Ben and Leo did not look a comfortable pair running together with Leo scampering through the quick singles and Ben needing winding up! After hitting some decent shots, it was the running that did for Ben (8) when going for a second run he turned like an oil tanker and never made the ground (256-7, 32). Ali (13) hit 3 delightful fours before he was bowled trying to force another through square leg (272-7). Leo (18) was LBW in the last over bringing James to bat the last ball with Foz (2no). 273-8 in 35 overs.

Foz opened the bowling with a big wide before finding his groove. With 2 slips and 2 gulleys in place it wasn’t long before they were called into action. An attempted drive got the outside edge on ball 5 which Tom majestically took high above his head. Next ball was just short of a length which drew the outside edge for Skipper to take a comfortable catch (2-2, 1). Ali struggled with controlling his vast swing, bowling 3 wides in his opening over. Next over was hat-trick ball for Foz, but unfortunately he bowled it down leg-side. The back injury that had concerned Foz (2-13) prevented him from bowling any more than 3 overs. Ali (0-12) continued to get huge amounts of swing for the remainder of his spell without the wicket it deserved. Skipper diving low to his right could only get a hand on a chance. Ben (0-12) replaced Foz up the hill and should have had a wicket when the left-hander top edged a pull and Skipper made the ground to get to it only for the ball to bounce out of his gloves. PW was straight into the wickets when Leo took a catch to make it 38-3. A double wicket maiden followed for PW. First was a stumping for Skipper then a catch behind next ball to set up another hat-trick ball. Again, the delivery did not threaten a wicket with Shan on strike (60-5). Charles (0-25) struggled with line and length with the right/left hand combination, but PW (4-46) continued to torment the batsmen, taking the prize wicket of Shan with a comfortable stumping (88-6). James (1-30) took a wicket with a full delivery that the batsman played all around but took some punishment with some big hitting in his final over. Tommy (1-36) came on to provide the buffet and when he pitched the ball bowled some useful deliveries. He eventually took the wicket of the opening batsman when he reached hard to get onto a wide delivery and could only edge it for Skipper to catch. Leo (1-12) took a wicket bowled with a hint of in-swing and the innings closed on 202-9.

MOM: PW

Catch of the day: Tom at slip

Quote of the day: To Tommy: So your girlfriend is not made of latex and air after all!