Match
reports
Z
The
day didn't start promisingly - as the wandering Cavs were
making
their
way to Rotho from all parts of the country (Reading, Poole,
London &
Northampton), some inconsiderate drivers decided to have
a pile up on
the
M1, ensuring that ingenius alternative routes had to be
taken in order
to
make the start. Things were obviously even worse on the
B487 from
Redbourne,
as by 2pm the oppo had only managed to assemble 4 players!
With a
manufactured toss, and the generous concession of our 11th
man Todd
Baines
to the oppo, we were able to make a start with Hollybush
asked to set a
target.
The Foster clones opened up for the Purple & Blacks
and had soon put a
vice
like grip on the Hollybush openers with some quality swing
bowling.
Polio
victim Timmy F was particularly impressive, and had soon
snapped up the
aforementioned Baines for a duck (middling a full toss straight
to Aaron
in
the covers). This was to be the start of a perfect day for
Todd ("Future
of
the Cavs") - given away to the oppo, out for a duck,
he then the rest of
the
innnings umpiring and having to put up with Tant's optimistic
LBW
appeals -
Im sure hes looking forward to helping us out again! The
other opener
("Smashy") soon followed given out 'exasperated'
as a succession of
sweetly
timed cover drives only allowed our antipodean athlete in
the covers to
show
off his full array of dives and "oophs". In an
attempt to find a less
skilled/committed Cavs fielder (any one of the other 9 would
have
done!),
the batsman played all round a swinging full one from Jnr
and had his
twiglets re-arranged. Perhaps a touch of justice for a player
who was to
invoke the wrath of several Cavs later in the innings with
a very
"professional" umpiring decision.
Wickets continued to tumble with latecomers Buzzard and
Gandalf getting
amongst the spoils (although the former will be asked to
appear before
the
ECB late this month for his overly-aggressive 'send-off'
). Tight spells
from all the bowlers, including somewhat unlucky fruitless
spells from
Frase
and Shrimper O'B, meant that after 30 overs the Bush had
only made 75-6.
By
the 40th over however, that had translated to 173-6 as the
7th wicket
pairing went for everything, putting on a 100 partnership
and handed out
stick to all the bowlers. All in all though a decent bowling
performance
from the Cavs including a fine performance behind the stumps
from Jamie
"dont worry, I kept wicket once or twice at school"
Wise (although he
did
drop one of the big hitters when on 10 - off your not-at-all-bitter
correspondent's bowling!).
After a wonderful tea which included 3 kinds of homemade
cake, scones
with
cream & jam and lovely little pizza thingy's, Frase
was sent out with
the
Prince to get the innings off to a flier. 4 boundaries and
an attempted
broken arm (to Wise snr) later, Woodworm had done its job
and right on
Jimmy
Hats cue ("he'll get bowled now - you watch"),
Frase attempted to heave
another one to St Albans and departed for an entertaining
18. The
ever-correct Aaron "Azza" Spelling joined Wisey
at the crease, and these
two
kept things ticking over nicely, seeing off the openers
whilst
despatching
the bad balls. After our prospective Overseas Player of
the Year had
departed for 21 and Wise snr been fingered by Tant on 42,
it was left to
the
lowers Hat (30-odd) and Gaymondo (40-odd) to slay the oppo
to all parts
and
complete a very comfortable 7 wicket win inside of 30 overs.
Cavs in
comfortable win shocker - what a change from last season.
174 knocked
off in
30 overs with Gandalf, the Goat, Timmy F and secret weapon
Burton all
still
in the hutch - bring on Gayton!!
M.O.M
- Azza for some superbly athletic fielding, and a solid
21.
Mentioned in Despatches - Timmy F, quality opening burst,
unlucky to
miss
out - Jay, fine stand-in stumpying and a quick-fire 40
Champagne Moment - "GET OUT OF HERE - AAAARGHHHHH!!"
- mild mannered
Bouffant Burton with a typically understated celebration
of a wicket.
Cap of Dishonour - Bucks Fizz Lloyd (!!) - denying the Cavs...
Controversial Moment - Frase's steepling "catch"
- not given by Smashy.
Ah,
the joys of friendly cricket.
Comedy injury awards - Azza taking one in the plums, Paul
Wise taking a
full
blown Tant drive on the forearm (could be enough to put
him out of the
Olympics), and SO'B taking all the skin off his elbow in
a ridiculous
attempt to take a diving catch - all for the badge!
