[PVB reports on the 3rds trip to Dalgety Bay]
A fast and bouncy track at Dalgety Bay –
many surprises – first being we were 40 minutes early [!!] and started on
time. Just 10 of us, but a good 10. Inserted. Paul & Mike found it
hard going - so after 2 blows to the thumb Paul decided to have a rest
until he could hold the bat properly return to face the pies which were being delivered by the
lesser bowlers. Mike did well to keep out the openers for 14 overs,
Matt surprised us all by playing a defensive shot – after a string of
brave ones including smashing the bouncy bowler [?] over his head; Richard’s
straight drive was majestic – oft practised in the garden no doubt. But they all got bowled and at 45-3 entered former fast
bowler turned wicketkeeper-batsman Andy G.
Now
turning yourself into a batsman is all the rage – Calum MacLeod,
two dogs, Coco (but read on) [I omit Gary T – we know he always was
a batsman], Andy is the latest - he then proceeded to pick out any
overpitched ball and dispatch it meatily through extra cover to midwicket time and again –
he nearly killed Paul at the bowler’s end [the bowler's end is at midwicket?]. In return, Paul tried to run
him out to get him on strike. Andy and Paul put on 85 as the bowling
became 'varied' and Andy reached his maiden 50 with probably no more than a
single on the off side. It was magicnificent, and he has two magic
weapons – no, three!: 1, his reach & eye – anything remotely a full
toss even on middle is hoisted to midwicket. 2, his bat, the
provenance of which we won’t discuss, and 3 the can of lager he had just
quaffed before batting. The club 3rd XI kit should now include plentiful cans of cool lager.
At
about 130-3, Paul departed for 30. Then a new bowler who had allegedly
never bowled for the club in his many games had Andy well caught at
longish-on, followed by Coco who received a absolute jaffa missed a straight one first ball. Ken
and Ted perished in the chase, and Dave & Keith got us over the 150
mark.
So
that wasn’t bad. But we knew Murray Forbes could tonk a bit – a century
last week. Someone said it was a bit like facing a team with Chris
Gayle in – if you don’t get him out, you lose. So Murray went at a hell
of a pace – a straight six off Matt’s first over was a pointer, and he
had no respect for seniors either, dispatching Ellis snr over his head
for another. Ok, it wasn’t chanceless [name the guilty men Paul] but you just have to admire it; he
probably reached his 91 in about the same number of balls that Ken took
v Morton to get off the mark! He was even out before the drinks break.
It was over 100 before Keith came on and was given the same treatment in
his first over; then he bowled well, conceding only 28 in 7 overs. Andy
pouched his first catch behind the stumps.
Posts
