Tuesday 17th June 2025
When you think of Wick CC a few things come to mind: XXL jerseys, ibuprofen, test match batting (and collapses) to name a few. It was therefore somewhat of an odd choice to organise a mid-week T20 fixture against the Vale’s U17s team. This feeling was further compounded when the youthful opposition decided to do a full warm up ahead of the match, including putting out those floppy stump things to bowl at.
As the match reporter was late arriving, they don’t know who won the toss, or if there was a toss, but either way, Wick were batting. Steve and Colin got Wick away to a steady start, both taking a few overs to size up the Vale bowling attack whilst keeping the scoreboard ticking over. Whilst this was happening, much of the talk on the boundary was about Owen’s office attire, which looked like it would be more at home on Magnum PI than in the Civil Service offices and was deemed unacceptable by the more traditional members of the team.
Wick CC - 113 for 4 (20.0): Russ Milne 26*, Steve Collins 19
Vale CC u17s - 107 for 7 (20.0): D.Parker 25*, R.Birns 25*, Steve Collins 4-9
SCORECARD
It was an uneventful innings for Wick. After Colin was run out for 12, Rob joined Steve at the crease before being caught on the boundary a few overs later. An unusual innings for the big hitting Dicky as he struggled to get bat to ball. The ever-reliable Steve ticked along in the middle before being bowled for 19 which brought Amal and Russell to the crease. Russ, inevitably retired not out for 26. Next in was Chris, fresh off a great innings for Vale over the weekend unfortunately he couldn’t repeat the same heroics but did play a lovely shot through square leg for four before being dismissed by Jake Morgan.
It was Owen, who had spent the majority of the first 16 overs saying how Wick needed to go for the big shots in the expectation that he wouldn’t be needed to bat, in next to partner Amal. With some encouragement from the boundary the twosome got going both ending on 16 not out and bringing the Wick total to 113.
Now, when you’ve got a team who’s combined age doesn’t even match the combined aged of the Wick top order, how you approach the game has the potential to be a bit of a moral grey area. But Vale, whilst youthful, were not lacking in quality cricketers, with several members of their team representing Vale CC in senior league cricket across all 4 teams. Russell, sensing the need to match their youth with youth decided to open the bowling with Wicks two youngest players; Ben Wade (18) and Owen (34 and a half). The old adage ‘you don’t win anything with kids’ was almost immediately proved wrong as Owen took a wicket in his first over to leave Vale 23/1 after four overs.
Captain Russell, showing no mercy, brought on Dicky and Kenny to bowl next. Both keeping it tight against a batting pair with plenty of league cricket experience between them and making sure they had to work hard before eventually retiring not out.
With new batters at the crease, Simon and Russ set to work and did their best to keep the run rate manageable and with Russ picking up a wicket thanks to a spectacular catch from debutant Wraggy who took two attempts to snaffle a catch off a powerful shot by the big hitting Vale wicket keeper.
With the match hanging on a knife edge, Russ brought on Amal and Steve to Bowl. Steve, fresh off his fifer against Bridgend was not in the mood to mess around. The man is an addict, and it didn’t take long for him to get his next fix, picking up four wickets in his 3 overs. With Amal picking up a wicket at the other end, Wick were sensing victory but knew that Vale had a few retired big hitters to come back in.
What the Wick side lacked in youth they more than made up for in experience and decided to steady the ship (and the bowling) to ensured the two batters at the crease batted out the last few balls giving Wick a 7-run victory and keeping the unbeaten home run intact for another few days.
A great game of cricket played in good spirits which really showcased the young talent in the Vale Club. We look forward to a 40-over match in a few weeks’ time.
Next up for Wick it’s back to 40 over action as we take on Cardiff Casuals on Sunday.
– Owen Thomas
