Sorry for the delay in match report – Correspondent was afflicted with a bout of forgetfulness!
So, after 2 games of the Wick CC season so far we were 1&1. A last over T20 loss and a good 40 over win. So onto the next….
Ahh, Friday night lights at the wonderful cricket venue 😉 of local neighbours Colwinston. With the shock of Kenny making himself available for the mighty Wick and with normal skipper Russ away on Olympic squad training from South Africa and young Josh on secret special agent training, it was left to a joint venture of Dicky and Andy to captain the team through the evening fun. Wick took to the field with the normal core of players and the loan of three youngsters, Sam (although negotiations are well under way on a multi-million transfer fee for the young Welsh International – Dicky has his calculator out), Ben (“I can bat a bit”) Wade and Dan (“my bowling’s OK”) Parker. More of that later. No Leo, so ball shining duties handed to Iestyn.
To show we meant business Dicky claimed the toss 4 hours before the game started and choice to bat first.
With Dicky reminding all of the local rule of hit 6 into the field and retire and the normal 25 runs and retire friendly rule we had a plan of attack – score loads of runs and then bowl them out. Maybe the pitch, which had more grass on it than Russell’s Garden, might have something to say about that.
Joint skippers spent several hours prior to the game discussing the batting line up but eventually decided to go with giving everyone a game and batting down the order themselves – some say to protect their average – someone should have reminded Andy that an average of 5 didn’t need protecting!
Wick CC - 95 for 3 (20.0): Chris Day 27*, Rob Dixon 19*
Colwinston CC - 96 for 9 (19.5): Kenny Thomas 2-3, Iestyn Jones 2-11, Ben Wade 2-14
So, Steve and Chris, wandered out to bat. Chris with new pads held on by not very sticky Velcro. A solid if not fluent start, with a green damp wicket causing a few odd bounces and the ball to stick in the ground… They got us through to the 5 over mark before Steve got what can only be described as a pea shooter – one bounce then a roll along the ground to bowl him for 10, after he was looking in good touch. Kenny got excited seeing the bounce and was keenly debating which end he was going to open from when Wick took to the field. Young Ben strode in next, with sound advice from everyone ringing in his ears “Get to 24 then stick one in the field” – he obviously got a little confused on his way out to the middle and only remembered parts of the advice – 2nd ball bosh into the field – 6 and retire. Hero from the Sunday before Iestyn in next, polishing the ball for the opposition as he went.
With fielders on the boundary 4s were hard to come by, so lots of singles and running – Chris having to stop every time and retightened his pad straps – at one stage Umpire Andy twisted and tied them so tight that Chris lost all sensation in his legs. This helped his batting though and he eventually retired on 27.
Young international Sam in next to help steady Iestyn nerves. After 10 we were on 44. They moved the total to 59 after 14 before Iestyn (8) was caught trying to up the run rate. Dan then joined Sam and played some nice shots but again the outfield didn’t help, and they were all singles. Sam unluckily runout next for 1. This brought Dicky to the crease with time running out. He lost no time and smacked a 4 first ball, then struggled and swiped for a few without connecting.
After 19 we were 78-3, Dan on strike, single, Dicky on strike – smack – four, Dicky – smack – four, Dicky massive swing missed – dot ball, Dicky smack – six – retired for 19. Andy in to face the last ball of the innings – he managed to drag it to the deep somewhere and run 2. Dan left not out on 8. Wick finishing on 95-3.
Half time team talk was with a star-studded bowling line up – we could defend this on a slow track – Dicky and Chris opted not to show Colwinston their supreme bowling, so we had 9 to divide 20 overs by. With Andy doing the skippering on this part of the innings, he borrowed Dicky’s calculator to try and work it out – Anyway Kenny opened from the playground end and Owen from the top end. Great start by both with Owen claiming a wicket (bowled) in the 2nd over. After 4 they were 12-1.
Dan replaced Owen (1-9) but Kenny was given a final over to try and get on the wicket trail – the massive crowd held their collective breath as he trotted in to bowl (even the ongoing NBA game on the adjacent basketball court stopped to watch and several campers in the field next door we seen peering through the hedge) – he didn’t disappoint us though as he took 2 wickets (both bowled) in his third (and last) over. 2 wickets for 3 runs in 3 overs. “Sweet like a chicken” was now echoing around the trees and people in the camp site next door were clapping.
Now if you remember Dan had told us at the beginning that his “bowling’s ok” well he came hurtling in from the top end and nearly took both the batsman head and Dicky hands off with his first loosener (Dan 0-4). Gutsy (0-10) on now replacing Kenny – his usual mixture of thunder and blood (usually that of the fielders who dared to make a mistake). So Colwinston progressed to 36-3 after 9 (or was it 9??). Youthful Ben and Sam on next, with Sam bowling mystery balls spinning it both ways, very unlucky to have a skied shot dropped – not saying who by but it rhymes with Utsy. Ben however did strike with 2 wickets (both bowled) ending on 2-14. This was the stage of the game where Andy was seen squinting at the calculator and then the scoreboard as the overs bowled seemed to be at least 3 out in his head. Anyway, Iestyn on to replace Ben. 15 overs bowled but the scoreboard was showing 17?? Andy now totally confused came onto bowl replacing Sam (0-21). Iestyn did strike twice in the next over, good catches by Dicky and Dan (Iestyn 2-11). So, we thought 16 overs gone, scoreboard showing 18 – challenged they checked no 18 was right. Andy and Dicky mid-wicket conference “pretty sure we have another 4 to go” “Oh well never mind”. At this stage they were 81-7. Andy continued, 83-7 with the ‘last’ over about to start by Steve. Decent over but as we thought they needed 15 we didn’t push too hard on a couple of run out chances.
Then it came to light that Andy and Dicky were right all along, and we have another 2 overs to bowl with them now needing 7. Andy with the penultimate over, took a wicket but went for 3 precious runs (1-7), 92-8 with the actual last over from Steve about to start.
By now the huge crowd was causing some concerns for the on-site security staff but all held their breath as Steve strolled in.
Wide ball, 3 needed, dot ball, still 3 needed. Single, 2 needed, Wicket. 94-9. 1 run needed 3 balls to come 1 wicket remaining. A quick single taken, good fielding by Owen nearly bringing the run out required but just in. 1 run needed 2 balls 1 wicket required by Wick.
Steve now slightly warmer than he had been all night felt no pressure, but the Colwinston batsman managed to get bat on ball and run through for the winning run with 1 ball and 1 wicket to spare.
Great game played on a pudding of a pitch in great spirit. A big shout out to Sam, Dan and Ben for helping out.
Back to the Sycamore for post-match beers and some chips, where Kenny was seen negotiating his transfer fee to play for Colwinston on a regular guest appearance basis.
