Wield vs Whiteditch Wanderers, Sunday 5th September
Weather – Bright with a south easterly wind of 15 knots
Match summary – Low scoring due to weather, misbehaving wicket, slow outfield, opposition that play not to lose and in Pete Madden one of the best captains you'll see on a Sunday.
Captain Yorke lost the toss and no surprise we were put in. With Lord Flasheart back in Vancouver and Tony getting tips watching son Harry hit boundaries for the district U9's a new opening partner for Andrew Frome in Rob Cottrell. A Yew tree Cricket team member who wanting to play on a winning team was making his Wield debut.
The opening attack was complete opposites, at the Yew Tree end a good pace bowler, the other end 74 year old Whiteditch legend Dave Watton who bowls very slow left arm spin. Against whom Rob couldn't resist anymore, due to either lack of patience or beer arriving at the pavilion he took a huge swing, missed the ball and was bowled for 8.
Next in Will joined his Father, the partnership had raced to 4 when Frome senior was caught behind for 15. An innings that deserved more and with Will turning into good all-rounder this pair are proving to be good additions to Wields vast playing squad.
The 2 quick wickets of Harry B (0) and Dougie (8) who if he scored more runs and took some wickets wouldn't be a bad all-rounder himself, left us in trouble at 48-4.
Guy (smiler) Robinson joined Will and finally after 25 overs the opening bowlers were replaced. Against the new attack Wield's 2 young'uns staged a mini revival and were going well at 77-4 when umpire Robin had a Shakoor Rana moment. Forgetting Will was left handed Robin gave him out to a ball that pitched well outside leg stump. He soon realised his mistake and told the bowler his mistake hoping being Sunday cricket he'd call him back, No chance!!!!!
Wield's latest mildly famous debutante Jim Murray fresh from his stunning Yew Tree debut failed to trouble the scorers which meant Guy was joined by our leader. With Yorkie sniffing his 23rd not out of the season they added 47 vital runs most of which were run. So at tea Guy an excellent career best 33* and a knackered skipper 28* taking our score to 124-6.
Teas were excellent a big thanks to Lola, Claire and Victoria.
If we were to defend 124 we had to get Kis their hard hitting batsmen out early. The task was given to Dave and Will and it was the latter who in the 4th over held onto a sharp caught and bowled to send Kis back without scoring.
When Whiteditch only scored 7 runs in 7 overs (mostly wides and byes) we thought it was going to be a long afternoon but when Dave and Max combined to dismiss the other opener Dave took his first wicket since May and batsmen 3 and 4 started to play some shots.
Yorkie asked Robin to replace Will causing Dougie to throw his cap to the ground knowing he wouldn 't get his usual 15+ overs. The anger in Dougie's face turned to pain as he bent down to pick it up.
In his 3rd over Robin repaid the skippers faith by bowling a snorter that beat the bat and hit the off stump, the batsmen stayed put claiming Max had hit the stumps with his gloves. Now Max wasn't that quick in has hay day (July 18th 1982 vs Chawton). Despite Max several times telling him he was bowled he wasn't moving (was this Tony in disguise) so the umpires gave him not out. Robin not being happy increased his run up to 2 steps because of which he soon tired and was replaced by Dougie, who in his first over with a ball that turned feet not inches???? bowled the same batsmen who this time had no reprieve.
A wicket between wides for Rob C and 2 more from Dougie who with the pitch now helping was getting huge spin?????? This halted the rarely seen Whiteditch run chase and the game ended in a stalemate with the score at stumps 96-7.
The Yew Tree was closed due to the wedding of the year but we mulled over a few moments with a pint or 2 of Swift One (thanks Tim)
Robin Hunt
