Match reports - Players and Jesters

Cavs victorious in another tight finish

The Mighty Cavaliers stormed to another victory on Sunday in a last-over success against a strong Players & Jesters side. The winning runs were skied over third man by Delia who bludgeoned a fine 13 in the dying overs to see the side home. However, the main batting input came from Jimmy Hat who battled to an unbeaten 58 and was the real reason the Cavs reached their niggly target of 164. A fine knock from the self-proclaimed ladies man and one that proved again he is the Cavaliers best and most reliable batsman.

All in all it was a superb team performance that produced the victory with everyone bowling well, fielding like panthers and helping Hat along with some important batting partnerships. Fielding first, Frase and Jim opened the bowling and Chesney's pace proved an excellent foil to Jim's constant line and length. A wicket soon came when Frase clean bowled the opener with a great full-length delivery. Their no.3 was the danger man and was looking good before Fireman produced a catch out of the top drawer and one that would see Gayle a happy woman later that night. A full-length dive on the boundary off TimmyF's bowling saw Firms hold on to the ball and surface with that cheeky grin before being mobbed by his team-mates.

The bowling continued to be tight and lively. TimmyF produced another good spell and was backed up by Bazmario, Firms and Bouffant all who put the ball in the right place and took deserved wickets. Tweatkin, by his own admission, isn't having the best of seasons but today he bowled like Warnie and his variation of speed and flight had the batsmen bamboozled throughout his spell. Even the watching crowd enjoyed his bowling and shouts of "come on Benny" and "come on Dave" could be heard from Ben's number one fan - the nutter on the boundary.

A decent total of 163 would ask questions of the Cav's once weak batting. Jay Wise - struggling with a side-strain picked up by spending too much time with Ted Rogers III - opened the batting with Saul (token Bogey). They started well against a decent opening attack, but with the score on 20 Jay received a good ball which he lazily edged behind. Saul soon followed when he was bowled - again by a good ball - after scoring a gritty 16. Unfortunately, it wasn't long before BCR was following him after another edge that was superbly taking by their second slip. Ben's concentration whilst batting has not been good this season which most put down to him spending to much time on the nose-candy and Moroccan Super-Skunk.

That brought Hat and Goat together in the middle who played some controlled and educated batting bring the run-rate up and frustrating the opposition bowlers. Zidane had scored fluently and was looking like the batsman of 1999 before he was given out LBW by Wordy. Needless to say, he wasn't happy and Saul took the Fozzie stare and headshake before walking off. That brought Tant to the wicket - a man we all know can bat well and score freely when his mind is right. Unfortunately, Frase has some demons in his head at the moment and with little confidence he didn't last too long. His intentions were clear from his first ball, which he tried to knock into orbit until succumbing a few overs later for 2 runs.

TimmyF and Hat got their heads down for the next 15 overs and ticked the scoreboard over and looked for quick singles. Tim's time on the Rock seems to have helped his batting this year, which was controlled and steady, until a mix up saw him slip during a quick single and he was cruelly run out. That brought Lager Lloyd to the wicket with 5 overs left and the required run rate at around the 6 mark. Hat continued to bat solidly and extract the needed boundary off the over before it was left to Delia to knock the winning runs with 2 balls remaining.

A great victory for the Cavaliers who are starting to show much better commitment in the field and a batting line-up that can go into some depth. A year ago it would be unlikely that we would have secured such a victory and it speaks volumes for the side that we are now able to produce victories from these close games.

"There is no I in Tea".m" Delia reiterated after the game as the Cavaliers moved to an unbeaten run of 3 games.

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