Sunday 10th September 2023
Wick visited Barry West End for the final game of the 2023 season. With the hot baking Sun and the euro rave blasting from the fairground it felt like the last hurrah of summer. Philomen joined us and the Great Man reckoned he first played on the island in ’73 meaning a Wick cricket team has been making the trip east for 50 years now which is a fine thing.
Usual scramble for players but a welcome return to the line-up for only the second time this season for Chairman Math and thanks to James Lord from the Vale youth factory for stepping in. Kenny was back in the warm Wick embrace but insisted on wearing camouflaged cargo shorts and a Vale cap as if to remind us we need him more that he needs us.
Wick CC - 189 for 9 (40.0): Russ Milne 58, Rob Dixon 56, Andy Ellis 30* Barry W.E. CC - 190 for 5 (39.1): S Oram
Wick batted first, Dicky rode his luck and got dropped twice early on but West End struck with the wicket of Steve. Math (18 runs) got off to a good start before being caught pulling a full toss out to deep square leg. Enter Russ who was missing the Boks roll over the Jocks to play this game and he and Dicky settled into a good partnership getting Wick to 90-2 off 20 overs. Dicky (56) reached his only half-century of the season with a neat cover drive for 4 but was out soon after with Wick on 123. This brought Andy, very familiar to the Barry cricket scene, to the crease and he and Russ showed why they have been the best pair with the bat this year and they moved the run total to 170. Russ (58) was bowled for his fourth half-century in seven innings this year. The rest of the Wick batsmen only had four overs to make an impact so high risk – high return batting required. There was plenty of the former and less of the latter but Andy (26) managed to top edge a six with Neal the only other to contribute a run. It was enough for Wick to reach 189-9 at the end of the innings.
There was no doubt loads of comedy at the tea interval but may be the over exposure to the Sun or the sight of Russ in his pants cooling his hot (temperature) legs with his whites around his ankles that limits the recollection.
Despite some good wheels from the opening bowling of James and Leo the opening West End batting partnership saw them off, and then Math and Andy too, accumulating 78 runs in the process. Scene set, enter the Vale 3rds leading wicket taker, could he catch Steve in the Wick wicket taking chart? – he was going to have a shot for sure. Kenny struck first over bowling their M “Cheese” Williams and next over he combined with Russ for a run out (claimed as his wicket). Kenny then got two absolute plumb lbw decisions and he was racing up the wicket taking chart. Unfortunately for him, but fortunately for us, Steve topped up his wickets for the season when Andy caught one off his bowling in the deep. West End were at 133-5 at the 30 over mark and the game was in the balance but West Enders, Odd Job and S Oram, steered the home team to the target with just 5 balls to spare.
Great hospitality with food and a beer back at the West End clubhouse just in time for the Wales Fiji kick off.
Season over, thank you to Russ in his inaugural season as skipper, been brilliant and once more topping the runs chart. Congratulations Steve, man of the field award as leading wicket taker and catcher (joint with Russ/Andy). Big thanks to the Gov’ner and Kenny for the grounds work, been a very tough slog this year. Diolch to everyone who turned out this season, 30 players in total over 12 games hopefully reflective of a welcoming, non-results focussed, club. Hopefully in 2073, Leo (only one with hope of still being alive) will be sat on the island reminiscing with the Wick cricketer of the future
-Rob Dixon
