Match
reports
Z
Wise
and Shine for Cavaliers
Jay
Wise once again narrowly missed out on the first Cavaliers’
ton as the Cavs outplayed Redbourn in every department on
Sunday.
Wise’s
93 was his third score in the nineties and it looked for
all the money as if the Holy Grail would at last be seized.
But, as fatigue set in, Wise the younger spooned a drive
to midwicket to see his innings curtailed.
Fresh
from an opportunistic night on the tiles, skipper Jim Handford
lost the toss – as ever – and, on a hot afternoon,
was most surprised when the hosts decided to field first.
Wise and Benny Rankin opened the batting and barely broke
sweat to put on 50 for the first wicket, before BCR (11)
was bizarrely run out ambling to the non-striker’s
end when anything beyond a mere trot would have seen him
home comfortably. He was replaced, in close succession,
by Paul Wise (4), Ellis Thorpe (12), Simon Foster (4), Handford
(8) and Gareth Lloyd (0), but all the while extras were
helping to move the score along nicely. By the time Fraser
Tant came to the crease, Wise was in the 80s, but he soon
perished as the fatigue of batting for 35-odd overs hit
him. Tant (17), Tim Foster (13no) and Jim Burton (8no) took
the Cavaliers to what looked an eminently defendable 189/9,
meaning that 10-day-old Samson Firmin was unable to watch
his proud father Timothee bat. Probably best to spare the
lad that excitement until he’s a little older anyway.
When
Handford had the two Redbourn openers caught sweetly by
BCR at first slip and Lloydy behind the stumps with single
figures on the scoreboard, 189 suddenly looked a mile away.
Wickets fell regularly as tight bowling from the Cavaliers
was matched by excellent fielding. Elbow took a skier at
deep extra cover, Tanty a fine diving catch at gully and
Firms a sharp chance at midwicket, and JB (3 wickets) and
Firms (2) soon polished off the tail, with Redbourn a woeful
81 all out off just 23 overs.
So,
the bandwagon rolls on to the grudge match against the Hollybush.
If the Cavs show this kind of form, they should have no
problems, although the purple-and-whites have an annoying
habit of throwing away the ‘bush fixture when victory
looks assured. They’ll be hoping to remedy this in
Rotho next week.
Man of the Match: Jay Wise, no contest. He’s promised
Suzie that they can get hitched as soon as he gets the Cavs’
first ton, although apparently she’s getting impatient.
Champagne
Moment: Great catches from BCR, Lloydy and Frase. Samson
Firmin receiving his first Tottenham replica kit.
Orange
Cap of Shame: Simon Foster, for spilling a sitter at second
slip. Harsh, but the Incumbent of the Orange normally delivers
and nothing would make the Goat happier than getting a match
winning nifty against the ‘bush.
