Sunday 22nd May 2022
Earlier start than usual as the players congregated at the Lamb & Flag for the new kit photoshoot. The fashion world has incorporated plus size models into its industry and Wick stretched that term, plus the shirts, to the limits. But hey, a beer providing establishment on the front of a beer belly is at least honest marketing.
Skipper Rob had endured a torturous hungover trip back from Birmingham post corporate jolly to find a buoyed team in a new kit ready for a game versus Lisvane – he lost the toss and Wick were fielding. He wanted to give everyone a bowl so Dicky was wicket keeping. Kenny strolled over as Dicky was padding up to provide some generous insight “Wear a hat butt, your bald head is going red”
Paul and Steve opened the bowling. I don’t know if Kenny is so in touch with the Village Green that he can slow down time when on the hallowed turf: it certainly looked that way as a ball flew in the air toward him, he seemingly didn’t see it until the last split second, dove to his left getting two hands on the ball for a flying catch at point. Steve struck soon after when Dicky caught an edge behind the stumps. Lisvane started ramping up the run rate but both Tubsy and Kenny bowled nicely and Kenny combined with the behatted Dicky for a stumping and the obligatory Kenny wicket. Colin and Iestyn (first game in three years) took the next spell and Lisvane reached the 20 over halfway drinks break with 109 runs on the board.
Russ and Rob managed to stem the run rate and Russ produced an excellent 4 over spell with two wickets and only 4 runs conceded.
One of the great things about cricket is you see Fathers and Sons playing in the same team and this was the case for Steve and Evan for Lisvane. Even better is when Father and Son bat together and even better is when Son runs Father out for a duck – as Evan said, it’s better to have run your dad out than someone else on the team. Fortunately he made pops proud with an unbeaten 28.
Amal and Leo bowled well in the death bowler roles and contained Lisvane to 209 runs off the 40 overs.
Wick opened the batting with Amal and Russ but Russ popped one up early and was caught signalling the arrival of Dicky. Despite some good bowling from Lisvane, Amal and Dicky got into a great rhythm and peppered the boundary with some big sixes from Dicky. Leo was umpiring and for those who don’t know he wildly claims to have been born in the same Burnley hospital bed as Jimmy Anderson. The supportive crowd were abuzz with the potential relegation from the Premier League of the Burnley Lara’s beloved football club so when Amal hit a lovely cover drive for four Kenny found some inspiration for a new theme song; “Is this the way to Amal-rillo” was hollered out. The fruitful partnership was ended with some great fielding by Lisvane leaving Amal run out for 38. Paul strode out with Jason’s old bat like Thor wielding Stormbreaker and strolled pretty much straight back after, remarkably, being caught in the slips. Enter Colin for a Dixon partnership, they got to 120 runs by drinks.
The greatest entrance of the day was reserved for an umpiring stint. Steve walked on like Delia Smith at halftime in Carrow Road – ‘C’mon, leg-side wides, let’s be having you!”. Once the furore had settled Dicky resumed the big bash. He then got accused of something he had never been accused of before…being a league cricketer. Assurances were given of village cricketer status and the boundary bludgeoning continued until a smart slower ball caught him off-guard and was bowled for a career best 86. Every village cricketer has their day, today was Dicky’s and, Philemon, a bastion of cricketing etiquette ensured he got the applause he deserved and then told him he should have got a century.
Colin and Iestyn were looking good and on track to wrap up the game but Wick are never ruthless in victory and with only 5 runs to get both were out in the same over as was Kenny the next leaving Rob and Steve to pad back up and hit the winning runs.
Thanks to Lisvane for a great game with over 400 runs on show.
Back to the Lamb for a free victory pint courtesy of South Wales Logburners … if Carlsberg did Sundays!
-Rob Dixon
