Wick CC v F-Troop T20 @Newbridge Fields

Wednesday 7th May 2025

VE 80 Day eve so would it be VF (victory over F Troop) Day for Wick??

So after 2 games of the Wick CC season so far we were 1&1. A win and a dramatic tie, (Reporter for that game still recovering so match report delayed).

F Troop games are 20 overs, with special retire at 25 and no LBWs rules applied for the day to give everyone a game.

Russ had the usual ocky coky for availability – in, out, shake it all about. Anyway we somehow managed to end up with 12 (borrowing one from F Troop – Paul). Of course this meant we had about 6 players at site by the allocated start time of 6pm, so batting first was the choice.

Wick CC - 138 for 7 (20.0): Russ Milne 26*, Owen Thomas 27*

F-Troop - 142 for 3 (18.1): Kenny Thomas 1-18

Scorecard

Owen spent 7 hours talking to Russ about his batting prowess (and his new bat) on Sunday evening, so funnily enough Russ opted to start with Steve and Owen. Steve (2) out early on to ball that just didn’t bounce, unlucky. Andy in next, who decided that quick singles were the order of the day, unfortunately he forgot to tell Owen, who had to scamper several times. After several quick singles and a couple of 2s, Andy was out bowled (12) – some say too tired to lift bat (and their not wrong). Russ in to partner Owen. Owen had got fed up with running and decided that hitting the ball to the boundary was easier. He made his way past the 25 run mark and retired not out on 27.

Jeff in next (SPOLIER ALERT – one of the Heroes from Sunday), body still recovering and so allowed to use a Zimmer frame at the crease and a mobility cart between the wickets. This unfortunately ran out of battery and so he called for a runner after a bit – which Russ, who as normal had hammered a quick 26 (retiring not out), duly obliged. Dicky in next to partner with Jeff and Russ the runner. Normal chaos ensued when a runner is involved, who calls, where to stand, who’s coat is that jacket, after a while Jeff had enough and decide to get out (7), bowled (a deflection off his zimmer frame).

Enter King Kenny to rapturous applause from his travelling fan base. To say that the travelling fans were treated to an exhibition of batting similar to the IPL is pushing it but 3 fours on the trot was pretty special. Dicky continued to pepper the boundary before being bowled (20). Simon walking in next and then soon walking back out (0) after deciding that his stumps needed rearranging with his bat, whilst trying to hit the ball. Kenny could be heard shouting “good job we weren’t at home and they were my  stumps” (Probably would have broken Simons bat to be fair).

Paul from F Troop in next, now Paul has played for us before and has been involved in several running fiasco’s, so Andy who was umpiring at the time, could hear Kenny muttering to himself, “don’t let him run you out”. Kenny did a great job here and didn’t run when called leaving Paul stranded and run out! In next young Sam.

Kenny then departed after being caught (14). Last man (before the potential return of the retired not out batsmen Owen and Russ) was Amal. He and Sam played out the last couple of overs with no further losses. Wick ended at 138 for 7.

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Quick turn around with the light starting to fade. Jeff sitting the fielding out on the sideline, now nicely wrapped up in a blanket in his wheelchair. F troop lending us a fielder.

Simon and Kenny opening the bowling for Wick, F Troop opener and skipper looking strong with the bat. Kenny striking with bowled wicket, Dicky and Simon combining for a run out to remove a couple of batsmen but not the opener/skipper. Russ and Sam on next, some good balls but a few batsmen getting to the magic 25 mark and retiring. Amal, bowling rockets and our F troop sub bowling next, decent from both, with another wicket.

Andy and Paul (Our F troop loanee) bowling next, with words of encouragement from Kenny for Paul “He cant bowl Russ”, Kenny was brought back next over!

As normal Steve and this week Dicky given the honour of bowling the final overs, but with not many runs left to protect. (only 15 needed from 24 balls). Decent effort from the boys but F Troop getting the winning runs with 11 balls left.

Well played F Troop, the curse continues.

Obviously we are Wick and there were a few comedy moments whilst fielding (in the fading light, darkness, most of the time) –

• Steve mistiming one in the field but just about stopping it from crossing the boundary by flicking it back for Andy but Andy watching and laughing
• Amal jumping out of the way of a catch
• Dicky falling over whilst pretending to dive for a ball that went past 3 mins earlier
• Russ calling nice and early for a skied ball and dropping it (hit him on the chest)
• Jeff’s wheelchair being used as target practice by F Troop batsmen

And the winner is, with 87.3% of the votes cast – Dicky with his tremendous Olympic level dive. He wins a year’s supply of Kenny taunts and his own body weight in sherbet lemons.

Next game is later in May (25^th) at home, so a club training camp now set for next week in Canada, so that we can smuggle Iestyn back.

Andy Ellis