Wednesday 6th August 2025
Wales and England, North and South Korea, Tom and Jerry, Wick and F-Troop. Just some of some of the great rivalries in the world today.
Wick, having never beaten F-Troop were approaching the final mid-week match of the season with a healthy amount of trepidation, and seeing a few familiar faces amongst the F Troop ranks knew they had a tough task ahead of them.
F Troop - 159 for 3 (20.0): Iwan Thomas 29*, Amal Chandrasena 2-4, Ryan Birns 1-26
Wick CC - 160 for 7 (19.5): Spencer Birns 30*, Ryan Birns 27*, Owen Thomas 26*, Russ Milne 25*
SCORECARD
The Wick CC Toss Committee unanimously agreed that we’d be better off batting first, so obviously captain Russ lost the toss and we were bowling. Russ asked Owen to open with Amal, but seeing who was opening for F Troop and keen to protect his average, Owen suggested that Wick go for a more pace-orientated opening pair, so he was swiftly swapped out for debutant Ryan. He’s no mug.
Amal was first to strike, removing the F Troop opener for a duck thanks to a catch at mid off by Owen. Amal was also second to strike, combining with fellow debutant and Ryan’s father Spencer to get the wicket of the new F troop batter. When father and son combined to remove the ever-dangerous Gwilym for 16, F Troop were 19-3 and Wick were starting to believe.
Unfortunately for Wick, that was the end of the wickets as batter after batter retired 25 not out for F-Troop. Wick, who’s fielding has been unusually sharp this season didn’t help themselves with several dropped catches in the field, highlights of which included Owen and Dicky converging on a ball sent into low orbit by the F-Troop batter. With plenty of time to have a discussion of who should take the catch and set themselves, they both decided to let it hit the ground and look at each other like two toddlers meeting for the first time. Chris also continued his unfortunate run of form by dropping a few catches, with the last drop followed by ‘that’s seven I’ve dropped in the last week!’. Still, that diving slip catch on Sunday makes up for a few of those.
After a very grumpy Owen bowled the final over of the innings (which he put down to just being very tired), and thanks to some good all-round bowling, F Troop set a very solid total of 159 and Wick knew what they had to do.
Rob and Steve to open the Wick innings. Steve, considered. Rob went big then went home with a quickfire 16. Colin, tried to prove wrong the adage of ‘The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results’ by attempting to hit the first three balls into a different county before trying again on the fourth ball and being bowled. This bought Mr. Grumpy to the crease. Reuniting with the Arnie to his de Vito seemed to revitalise Steve, hitting a big six and four in the same over to get himself to 15 before being caught.
Next in was national treasure, big Ben Wide. Owen, comforted by having his coach and mentor with him at the crease, eventually got the scoreboard moving reaching his 25 and retiring. With Ben out shortly after, Russ came and went with his customary not out retirement. Amal was out for 1 but he took two wickets so he was still in credit. Ryan scored 27 and retired bringing Kenny ‘The Wick Caretaker’ Thomas to the crease who got out attempting his trademark sweep a few balls later.
Chris, the last man in, either attempting to do his best Chris Woakes impression or trying to garner some sympathy after his fielding, hobbled to the crease with Ben as his runner. After a bit of classic ‘run, don’t run, do I run? Who runs?’ confusion Chris was out and Owen was back in, as is the rules of midweek cricket.
With all the action it had gone somewhat under the radar that Spencer was seeing it like a beach ball and Wick were left needing 12 from the final over for a famous victory. Owen facing.
The first ball was going down Church Road, Owen played down Trepit Road. Dot ball. A tactical single off the second brought Spencer to face and he was in great form. The next three balls expertly driven through mid-off for four and Wick won with a ball to spare.
A famous and well-deserved victory against Wayne Barrington’s F Troop, a great team performance and played in great spirits by both sides (including Owen who cheered right up after getting a few runs. Weird that).
Thank you to Wayne and Andy for scoring and with Wick next in action against the Bridgend friendly side led by a Wayne no doubt keen for swift revenge, I’m sure we can expect a fully loaded Bridgend side taking to the village green on Sunday.
As the Wick players make their last-minute claims to be included in the squad for our first ever match against a national team, it should be a cracker!
Thanks as always to the Star for providing the post match refreshments.
– Owen Thomas
