Stour Provost 16/06/24

With dark clouds circling the ground the Wanderers elected to bat with David and Stephen doing the honours in a 35 over match. David (0) was caught trying to drive in the second over (6-1, 2). Tommy managed to make an appearance and joined Stephen who was pulling anything short of a length. Tommy was into his stride early, driving down the ground on the deck, using the pace of the outfield. It wasn’t long before the dark clouds produced a shower of rain and whilst play continued, the conditions changed. Stephen (16) had played a solid openers innings until he was bowled (40-2, 10). Charles was straight onto it, playing the good balls sensibly and pushing singles into the gaps in the field. The runs accelerated and at the drinks break the Wanderers were 92-2 (17 overs). Tommy passed his 50 but it was impossible to count up his score with James protecting the book from the constant drizzle enveloping the ground. Tommy’s (78) last 9 deliveries resulted in 5 fours before he tried to launch into a six, only managing to hole out to long-on 10 yards in from the ropes (137-3, 26). Skipper joined Charles, who by now was looking more and more like Steve Smith. Skipper was happy to keep rotating the strike, keeping 7 wickets in hand for an acceleration. It was most unfortunate when Charles pulled a leg-side beamer, only to get a top-edge going straight onto the keeper’s nose. As he went off for medical attention the rain returned, and the covers went on. The home skipper suggested that the Wanderers ended their innings there with 4½ overs unplayed. After discussion, Skipper acceded to this request and after tea the Wanderers set about defending their score of 173-3 in 30.3 overs.

Foz bowled up the hill with Leo at the other end. Both had some good deliveries but allowed the batsmen some scoring opportunities in the first spells. At 8 overs the home team were 39-0 and Shan came up the hill with Tommy providing the buffet down the slope. Shan (1-15) managed to breakthrough with a delivery the skidded through the batsman’s defence (64-1, 13). These two managed to slow the scoring rate by bowling in awkward areas on a pitch that was deteriorating. The outfield had also slowed with all the rain making scoring that extra bit difficult. It was not until the 20th over when the other opening batsman was dismissed by a good catch by Skipper from Tommy’s (1-23) bowling (85-2) which was the end of both bowlers’ ration (artificially reduced by the reduction to 30 overs). 89 was required from the last 10 overs but still 8 wickets were in hand. Charles came on up the hill with Leo returning also. Charles made the batsmen work to get bat on ball and got his reward in his second over, hitting top of off (105-3, 23). Leo (0-31) was unlucky to be hit by some quality batting and Foz, having changed ends, found the going difficult. Charles was again clattering the stumps (114-4, 24) and then Foz (1-42) attracted the edge through to Skipper (121-5, 26). Charles ripped through 2 more in his last over having been hit for 2 very big sixes, but can be happy with his contribution of 4-29. David (2-7) bowled the final over, with 20 runs needed. He started with a wicket (bowled) and finished with one (LBW) to ensure the win by 12 runs.

MOM: Charles with a splendid bowling spell backing up his fine performance with the bat.

Catch of the day: Skipper took both with the one off Tommy stand-out.

Quote of the day: “No Run” as Charles perfectly mimicked Steve Smith leave shot.