Thorncombe Flyers 15/09/24

On a bright but breezy September day the Wanderers went to Thorncombe for the first time. In the last hundred years Thorncombe has been a part of Somerset and Devon but is part of Dorset now. 9 players made it for pre-match drinks and the Skipper won the toss and elected to bat. David and Ollie opened the innings and were making steady progress when David (1) was caught trying to force the pace (12-1, 5). Garry (3) looked set to attack the bowling when a short of length ball didn’t get up and he was bowled (27-2, 8). Brett (5) was undone by a ball that moved off the seam and took top of off-stump (38-3, 11). Ady was caught off a thick edge in the slips for no score to bring Skipper in to join Ollie (49-4, 14). A four straight down the ground was soon followed by another over cow-corner with a straight drive for six straight after. Ollie and Skipper were running well between the wickets taking singles close in. Skipper rode his luck with a top edge going straight up and 2 fielders colliding under the chance! He was also dropped on the boundary twice but managed to strike some big blows. Ollie (42) was trying to play over the in-field when he got a poor connection offering a simple catch to mid-off (115-5, 24). Ben (1) was determined to keep the speed between the wickets but unfortunately chose the wrong moment and was comfortably run out by a direct hit from backward point (126-6, 26). Skipper brought up his 50 with a six over cow-corner (a moment missed by the scorers who waited until he reached 67 to acknowledge!) and he was caught on the deep mid-wicket boundary just after (135-7, 29). Stu (13) clattered 3 fours in one over (although only 2 are in the score book!) but was caught in his enthusiasm (158-8). There was nearly a disastrous mix-up between Foz and Big Dog but a run-out was averted by a fielding error. Foz (5) was bowled by a good delivery to bring in PW for the last 3 balls. He managed to pull to square-leg for a single and Big Dog (0) tried to go over the in-field on the last ball to leave the Wanderers 161 all out in 35 overs.

After a magnificent tea with the best homemade flapjack ever tasted, the Wanderers took to the field with Brett opening from the Pavilion end and Foz up the hill. Brett made the breakthrough in the third over with a beautiful delivery that kept it’s course with the batsman playing for the in-swing. Foz lost his length and was hit to the boundary a few times. Stu came on at the Pavilion end and was hit for 20 in 2 overs. Meanwhile, Ben bowled a maiden and then took a crucial wicket with Ollie taking a fine catch at mid-on. Garry came into the attack at the Pavilion end and looked to be creating some difficulty with his variations. Another wicket for Ben followed with an in-swinging delivery that was too good for the batsman. Ollie came on for Ben (2-11) with the 2 spinners operating together. Ollie got a deserved wicket when an attempted drive went very high over Ollie’s head and Ady shouted that it was his catch. In fairness, he took the catch comfortably despite looking third favorite to get there! With Ollie taking a catch off Garry (1-27) shortly afterwards, the Wanderers started to think that they were in with a chance. However, Ollie (1-28) was dispatched for boundaries and lost his rhythm and was replaced by Brett (2-13) who had been talking about bowling up the hill ever since he selected to bowl from the other end! He got the breakthrough with another well flighted delivery that swung late on the batsman. Foz (0-34) came back from the Pavilion end but was hit for 14 to deep square-leg putting the hosts in touching distance. A four off Stu (0-46) brought about the victory in the 31st over.

A superb first game at the flyers. There was time in the evening for Brett to get into trouble with the bar staff!

MOM: Skipper’s 67 game the bowlers something to bowl with.

Catch of the day: Ady (with a great shout before!)

Quote of the day: As the first wicket fell David said to skipper “I think he was like me, the sacrificial lamb at the top of the order”