Wield vs West Meon, Sunday 11th July
Weather: Would have been blistering if it wasn’t for Wield’s traditional howling wind down the valley.
Match summary – Another win for Wield and the best spell of spin bowling since Warne took 8/71 vs England 1994 (and as flighty)
After ‘Dear Leader’ A. Yorke won the toss the mighty Wield took to the field keen to avenge last year’s miserable collapse at the hands of West Meon. As the elder Robinson brothers strode to the crease Tim could be heard boarding up the pub windows, ready for the onslaught.
Alas it wasn’t to be. Ed played many flourishing, expansive drives....... some of which got within six inches of the ball, and scored at an unaccustomed crawl.
Ben scored at a slightly healthier rate- introducing West Meon to the simple pleasures of hedge crawling a number of times during the first few overs. The party was soon over though, and the older Robinson departed after dollying a leading edge to mid off for 23.
Enter Dougie stage left: a solid 4 was followed swiftly by an edge to slip which was kindly dropped. My personal highlight of this innings was an enormous swipe to a full toss which he missed by a bat’s width ‘a la Ed’ before our whirlwind no.3 was caught at slip to the world’s second slowest (overarm) bowler for 12.
A summer of beach cricket down in Cornwall had clearly done Jack ‘Steph’ Gibbons the world of good. First ball: an almighty stride down the wicket and a textbook forward defensive, whereupon he froze and growled at the ball for at least 10 seconds, resembling a man who had attempted a staring contest with Paul McKenna. Being a mind reader, especially of bowling, Jack knew that every third ball would be the one to smack over the boundary. This worked for a short while until he decided to look at interesting cloud formations instead of the ball, and was bowled for 14.
Amazing- at this point Ed is still in! And finally, after at least 15 overs he connects with one! Only to strike it in the air to deep square leg and be out for 21.
After Ed’s unlikely show of restraint the crowd demanded more; harder, faster stronger. Total cricket if you will. As the vuvuzelas droned across the Hook a young Harry Blackman strode to the crease with fire in his eyes and a hunger for runs. They didn’t come. In fact it took around 45mins for him to get a single. It did not make for an exciting umpiring stint. Harry was eventually dismissed for a long 7.
Guy’s innings can be described as ‘solidly lofted’, with at least half his runs being driven (just) over the bowler’s head. The rate of scoring was healthy, and the team nipper ended on 27, a higher score and at a faster rate than either of his older brothers.
The inexplicable written rule is that Wield send their best batsman out at the end. And so the Dear Leader oiled up his creaking joints and titanium-powered his way down the famous slope to the wicket. After observing Guy, Andy also believed that the lofted approach was the route to go down, bullying a young spinner and finishing up with a highly respectable 30 n.o.
Frosty came and went. Quickly.
The most memorable instance in Rupert’s short time at the crease was a very fine leave…on the last ball of the innings. Eh??
Tea highlights were the sausages, the scones, and the fact that I am having a fine selection of everything in my packed lunches this week.
I realise I have gone on a bit long already. So it’s lucky that West Meon’s innings was very short. Only extras and two batsmen made it into double figures (in that order). Not for the first time on the Wield turf, there were many ducks.
The fielding and bowling performance was (unusually) excellent, despite or perhaps because neither Dougie nor Ed had a bowl.
Step up Philip. Surely in the 30 years (?) he has been playing village cricket the Grand Master and proprietor of the Horny Bison has never been asked to bowl 9 overs on the trot. But with an incredible spell the only cricketer in the game whose bowling is entirely wind powered ended with the truly unbelievable figures of 6-29.
Rupert and Robin played excellent support roles, if slightly envious of their elder partner in the team’s slow bowling trio, ending on 2-10 and 2-8 respectively.
Amazingly, our catching was excellent. That’s right I actually wrote that. Frosty caught his first of the season (also claiming it was the first chance he’d had. Anyone buy that? No, didn’t think so.) Dougie caught a fantastic low catch at short extra cover, managing to squeeze a finger between the ball and the ground. Ben also caught a trio of West Meon batsmen, ending the game with a diving effort to the right.
Result: Wield win by 90 runs in time to watch the World Cup final.
N. B. Guy Robinson only let 2 byes through as keeper.
Our new unbeaten run has raced to 1, All together now!!! 2-4-6-8 who do we appreciate, Go Geddes Go Geddes!!!!!!!!
Ben Robinson
