Sunday 10th August 2025
A return to the home of cricket for Wick this Sunday, just 3 days after the famous victory over F Troop, this time to play another of Wayne’s team – Bridgend.
There was a flood concern – due to the amount of Wayne’s tears from Wednesday still flowing – but the Wick Ground staff (alright Kenny) had done a great job and the game was on.
With eight of the team from Wednesday night returning to play again, stand in skipper Steve was left to bring in Tubsy for Russ (family weekend away) to maintain our Dixon quota (we get fined if we have less than 3 in a team), John replacing Ben (who managed to break a couple of toes on Saturday) and Andy in for Owen (who was relaxing in hospital watching the cricket on the telly –oops – I mean supporting his partner during childbirth).
Debate about what to do if we won the toss – wasted as we lost and were asked to bat first.
Wick CC - 247 for 9 (40.0): Ryan Birns 61, Andy Ellis 35, Colin Dixon 32, Tom Dixon 27
Bridgend Town CC - 206 All out (33.4): Iwan Thomas 94*, Tom Dixon 4-26, John Eynon 2-20
SCORECARD
After an Alex Ferguson style pre game chat from Steve to the whole team – “40 overs take your time, play sensibly, head down, run well, score more than Russ” – Steve and Dicky strolled out first. Steve with the added pressure of trying to overtake Owen in second spot in the season runs table (11 behind).
A good start by both, Dicky doing normal Dicky things and smacking it, with Steve looking focussed. As Steve’s score climbed, Owen rang in from hospital to get an update. We lied and told him Steve had 50 already 🙂 Anyway Dicky out first a quick fire 7, Colin in next. He took Steve’s team message seriously and took his time to settle in with Steve trundling along nicely. Steve’s luck run out though and he was out for 16 – much to Owens relief just 5 runs ahead. Tubsy in next to partner his long lost Cousin. This was a crucial partnership for Wick and nerves were jangled with some, shall we say, dodgy running/ non running at the beginning. They both settled down and runs soon started to flow. They got us to just before drinks before Colin (32 score not his age by the way) was unlucky and got caught – great knock though. Hero from Wednesday night Spencer in next. 99 for 3 at 20 overs drinks break. A warm day so fluids, quick rub down with a damp sponge by team masseur Kenny, then back out there.
With the shock of the warm sponge rub down from Kenny still playing on his mind, Spencer was out just after drinks (5) and was soon joined by a very disturbed looking Tubsy (27) – a good performance. Ryan came in to replace Spencer and Chris for Tubsy. From 99-3 to 106-5 in no time. Steve heard crying and Dicky trying to remove the sponge from Kenny to avoid future issues. Everyone else praying that the old Wick collapse wasn’t on the cards. Chris then fell (2) and Andy joined Ryan in the middle. Two players with about 73 years age difference between them. They built a partnership, well Ryan did Andy just wafted his bat about and tried to run. They went past 150, with Steve now asking for at least a 200 end total. With a few shots being played they suddenly got to 200 from 34 overs with Ryan getting a great 50 in the process. They proceeded until Ryan tried one too many quick singles and Andy’s legs gave up on him, leaving Ryan stranded and run out for a brilliant 61 (96 partnership). John in replace Ryan, but Andy replaying the mix up in his head was out soon after (35). Amal in with about 4 overs to go. John trying to get on with it but unlucky and out. This brought Kenny the sponge boy in with just 7 balls to go. He gently guided the last ball of the over for a single to long leg to steal the strike for the last over. He then went bosh, 6 into the graveyard, quick run 2, bosh 4 to long leg, quick single for Amal to join the fun. Bosh 6 into the graveyard. Both too tired to run off the last ball. 19 off the over, we finished on 247-9 with Kenny getting 14 from 5 balls and Amal 18 from 11.
A strong looking Bridgend batting line up awaited the mighty Wick. Steve opting for Ryan and Amal to open the bowling, repeating the tactics from Wednesday evening just to remind Wayne of the outcome. Great start with Ryan snagging a wicket in the first over. Amal striking again in the 6th over. There was a lot of good fielding on display this week (Steve’s reign of terror making everyone put their bodies on the line), John & Colin especially sprinting and diving around like men possessed (auditioning for a spot in the 11 for the Wales game we wonder). John then replaced Ryan from the Trepit road end and Tubsy replaced Amal.
Now Tubsy hasn’t played much this year and has left it to his brothers to try and stake the best bowler in the Dixon family title (who can forget Dicky’s great 3 for 7 runs last week – well Gutsy can but moving on), Tubsy though he would give them a gentle reminder of who really rules the roost and struck twice in his first over – leading to some very strange fielding positions for his hat trick ball. Which was blocked, boo!. No matter in his next over, he took another wicket (another sharp catch by Colin behind the stumps). Then John joined the party as well claiming a bowled wicket and then another in his following over. When Andy and Dicky replaced the bowlers Bridgend were reeling at 7 down. Andy then struck first ball and Steve was seen preparing the champagne. However the Bridgend numbers 9 & 10 (Taylor & Thomas) had different ideas and got them safely to drinks 100-8. After drinks (no damp sponge involved this time you will be happy to hear) runs kept coming with Taylor playing the anchor role and Thomas dispatching the ball to all areas of Wick and several other local postcodes. Spencer and Kenny on to replace Andy and Dicky, but still no joy. 150 reached after 27 overs. Steve started to look nervous. 180 after 31 overs. 68 required from 54 balls. Gulp!
Steve brought himself on and brought back wicket machine Tubsy. This did the trick with a sharp piece of fielding from Ryan and great take from Colin to run out Taylor – breaking a great partnership of 126 for the 9th wicket. One over from Steve and then Tubsy (yes it had to be – sorry Gutsy) taking a low caught and bowled chance to finish the game with Bridgend on 206 and stranding Iwan Thomas on 94 not out from about 50 balls. A great knock that had Wick worried.
Wick 247-9 (Ryan 61, Andy 35, Colin 32, Tubsy 27, Amal 18, Steve 16, Kenny 14, Dicky 7, Spencer 5, Chris 2, John 0)
Bridgend 206-10 (Tubsy 4-26, John 2-20, Ryan 1-18, Amal 1-13, Andy 1-20, Dicky 0-43, Spencer 0-20, Kenny 0-24, Steve 0-7)
A great game with good contributions from everyone but special mentions to Ryan, Colin, Tubsy and Iwan from Bridgend (who scored 94 and took 4 Wick wickets). Back to the Star for great hospitality from Emily as normal. Our apologies to Wayne for beating his teams twice in a week but there’s always next year…..
Russell has been away, supposedly on a family break, but in reality he is in isolation trying to select his 11 for the Wales game next weekend. A live video feed from the Bridgend game has given him some selection headaches – we await the formal announcement (Live on Sky TV on Thursday at 11am) with tense anticipation.
All at Wick CC would like to say a massive congratulations to Hannah and Owen on the birth of their daughter (future left arm off spin and opening bat for Wick CC in 2042). We hope she gets her brains and good looks from her mother.
– Andy Ellis
