Hi Folks
The game ..... (PS the youngest team for ages, we had one 16 year old and a few still in their 20's)
Home game to us! Promptly lost the toss and the oppo decided to bat, first blood to us!
As titular captain I "cleverly" delegated minor issues such as setting the field, bowling changes and general tactics to Scott (VC today) and concentrated on the vital matter of clapping, encouraging and such like! (Know your strengths eh!)
Andy G and Popey started really well - with no luck - but not too many runs on the board (even better return spells later on) - then Usama and Fazal came on - Usama first - bowled really well, throttled his runup back and got the rewards - excellent 2 wickets in two balls top of off stump and top of leg stump with beauties! Fazal - what can one say - a little reminiscent of the 'King' air, air and even more air, I swear there was ice and bits of sputnik on some (the team looked at me oddly when I mentioned it, it's an age thing!) 2 wickets, sharp stumping to Scott, and a total bamboozler - charge down the wicket, full speed retreat, attempted shot and bowled, boy he was pi**ed - both openers gone! steady runs, steady wickets, Richard cracking spell 8,2,17,2 and an amazing return catch (high left hand plucked a rocket)! Then the Broonster 3 overs 2 for 10! It was death bowling at its best! they only made 40 off the last 15! - Fielding everyone was great new guy Nigel excellent in the field as was Usama, Brian F and Popey (despite dropping 3 rediculously hard ones, took a cracker off Richard though!) some collosal stops too from everyone Mike running tirelessly despite his calf injury saved a packet of runs too, some great dives by Coastal, Broonster, Nigel, Popey and Brian too, high artisitic value all round.
Result - 138 for 9 off 40 (extras ca 25)
Good Tea back at Arbo (best part of Inverleith artificial by miles.)
Innings 2 (Andy G leaving early) Mike and Andy opened Andy out quickly trying to launch a straight one out of the ground and Mike out to a great catch low in the gully. Saviour Scott to the crease (38 I think), Brian stuck around and score ticked on, then Coastal - too many deliveries for 6, thankfully out trying to accelerate. Richard magnificent innings 23. Usama to the crease (a great 18 in tight circumstances, we need roughly 30 odd of the last 5 overs, followed by 9 off the last 12 balls Usama run out magnificently when we needed 3!) Nigel and Popey ran a wide to tie the scores and Popey gloved a ball to short third man to win it with one ball to spare!
What a team, what spirit, what an effort, what a result. Oppo were great, sporting and very friendly. It was a great game even for the neutral! Many thanks to the 1's who came down en masse to cheer us on!
We're on 79.67 % - played 12 won 8 go the CROCKS! 3rd or 4th I reckon.
Here ends Coastal's sporting report!
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To be honest, on the catches
ReplyDeleteThe first one (at Silly Mid Off) would have been stunning, i didn't realise i had gone for it till i hit teh deck and saw the bruise on my hand, i don't think it was reactions, but just some supernatural outside instinct, shame it wasn't quite good enough. The second one was awful and embaressing. After spending 2 overs pestering Ken and Scott to move me from midwicket to gully for Usama, i promptly dropped a tricky but regulation gully catch, i could have made myself look so good.
The third (at Silly Mid Off) was less a drop and more a jaw bone saved. Fasal dropped a half tracker and the batsmen felt the best way to get rid of the annoying Silly Mid Off was to decapitate him, head saved, i never even thought about a catch!!!
Was pleased to pouche one in the end, diving forward for Ellis Snr.
As for the Fasal 'Bamboozler' it was tremendous, 3 steps down, 2 skips back, forward push, miss the ball and bowled. Top Stuff, who needs Shane Warne for the ball of the century????
DT's version of events:
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/kon3p6
Our oppo's version is interesting:
ReplyDelete'Al was well caught & bowled' - yip, I'll give you that one.
The card is however showing only 1 Brown wicket....Pah!
Good to see they show the end of the game attributed to the wide and not to the Pope nudge! How much did you pay them to write that Ken?
They wouldn't take a penny! Wides, well what goes round comes round, I felt the calling was pretty much even on both sides. I also thought it was with one delivery to spare myself! However the match was played in good spirits and sportsmanship.
ReplyDelete