Match reports

Old Paulines - 2002

So, the Cavaliers' band wagon rolls on, thanks to an great all round team performance against Old Paulines yesterday.

Well done the illusive Scarlet Pimperboge Jurgen for setting up the fixture and for Jimmy Hat for taking up the reigns on and off the pitch when Jurg went awol. Discussion point 1: How come Jurgen's cousins went to a posh public school and Jurg ended up at Bogeyville?

The key to yesterday's win was in the field where, defending a score 20 or 30 runs less than we would have liked, we gave nothing away with the ball or in the field. The fact that the Handy Tablet was barely opened was testament to this.

Victory was set up by the Goat's chanceless 57, ably supported by Jimmy Hat's 25, Brindo's 30 and debutant Sean Roy's crucial 27 at the end. Jay Wise was unlucky to nibble at an unplayable outswinger for 4, Elbow's run of luck continued with a direct hit run out for diddly, we'll gloss over Wordybonk's second ball duck, stumped again - Saul, your time will come - debutant Jeremy Toop (16) was the victim of a Kirtley-esque catch at mid-on, Lloydy's hoik across the line was followed by the inevitable death rattle (3), third debutant Gaffers was not out 0 and me holing out at deep midwicket (again) for 9 made me REALLY ANGRY.

So, defending 186 off 40 overs was going to be a big ask, but the Cavs were up for the challenge. Lloydy gave his best performance behind the stumps for a long time, taking a good catch in only the second ball of their innings when their dangerman was undone by some extra bounce from yours truly. Opening from the other end, Jez snaffled two wickets, one a good catch from Hat at mid off, the other a plumb lbw. Their number 3 was class and punished any bad ball and loads of good ones with some cover driving the likes of which the Cavs haven't seen for a long time. He only gave one chance throughout his 64 - an inside edge which Lloydy pouched comfortably to send him back to the pavilion. This was the first of Nick's 4 wickets and, added to his quality 30 runs, surely makes him m.o.m. Brindo's second wicket was from a quality stooping catch from the goat at second slip, and with Gaffers' catch at midwicket to dismiss another dangerman for 1, the cavs fielding was excellent. Shaun chipped in with a lovely spell of spin, resulting in three wickets - would have been four had he held arguable the easiest caught and bowled ever! The match was wrapped up when Brindo took the last two wickets in consecutive balls.

 

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