Match
reports
| Silsoe
Cricket Club - Away 21/08/05 |
Scorecard |
A new fixture for 2005, the Cavaliers
took on Silsoe CC in the grounds of the magnificent Wrest
Park (although to be fair the best scenery on offer were
the two Daisy Duke blonde stunnas spectating)
It turned out to be a comfortable
victory for the Cavaliers, stand-in skipper Jim Handford
taking over from his absent blood-brother Gareth Lloyd and
filling his sizeable shoes ably. Following in Lloyds footsteps
(to continue the pied-related metaphor), Handford duly lost
the toss and on an unexpectedly hot day, the Cavs were sent
out to graze while the hosts batted. As ever, Nick Brindley
did his usual with the new ball, bowling economically and
troubling the batsmen but not quite getting the breakthrough.
From the other end, Tim Foster couldn’t quite repeat
the excellent work from the previous week and the batsmen
did a good job of punishing the bad balls. Stand-in keep
Ellis Thorpe spilled a half chance off Foster, but at 75/0
off 15 overs, the Cavs were looking at chasing a sizeable
score.
However, Matt Penhaligan replaced
Foster and, bowling with a great deal of pace and increasing
accuracy, he soon dismissed both openers, one snaffled by
Tim Foster at first slip, the other bowled. And, it soon
became apparent that beyond the opening due, Silsoe didn’t
have much batting to offer and were under the cosh.
Replacing Brindley was Lance Boyd-Clark,
and it was fitting that in grounds designed by esteemed
landscape gardener Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown,
LBC produce perhaps the most capable bowling display of
the season, certainly in terms of economy: 8 overs, 1 for
9. The run rate was down to less than 4 an over, with the
Junior Wise Boys Dan and Rob bowling in tandem and picking
up two wickets apiece. After a bizarre over from Dan Wise
(2 wides interspersed with 6 dot balls), Tim Foster returned
and picked up a wicket with the last ball of his spell,
his 50th scalp for the Cavs. Well done Timmy F.
So, with a modest score of 145 to
surpass, Cavs openers Handford and Paul Wise began steadily,
unhurriedly chasing down the total without really opening
their shoulders. Wise gave a couple of half-chances, but
as they approached 100 without loss, the feeling from the
Cavs balcony was that a 10 wicket victory was on the cards.
It wasn’t to be, however, as Handford top edged a
pull just 7 short of his 50. This brought Fraser Tant to
the crease, and facing a spinner he began his innings watchfully..
Four forward defensives were greeted by some sledging from
the keeper: “keep it there Blakey, he doesn’t
know where it’s going!” The next ball was promptly
despatched over long on onto the roof of Vauxhall Astra
for 6. “I know where that one’s going”
was the response from the crease.
As has often been the case this (and
every other) season, Tant’s promising start was quickly
undone but a loose shot, this time a leading edge being
taken well at mid-off with just 10 runs to his name. Simon
Foster was next in the middle, and having spent 25 overs
moaning at Wise and Handford for not taking enough singles,
he met Wise for a chat on the way out and urged his fellow
upper to look for the quick singles. Less than an over later,
Wisey dropped the ball in to the offside and set off for
a comfortable single, only to get to the bowler’s
end and find Foster steadfastly still there. Wise’s
innings had ended on 45, but the hard work had been done.
Thorpe joined Foster in the middle
and his quick-fire 24no, assisted by an untroubled 12no
from the goat, saw the Cavs home with 7 overs to spare.
Job done.
Man of the Match: Matt Penhaligan
– his 3 for 39 broke the back of the Silsoe order
after a promising start
Mentioned in Despatches: Lance, for a great spell, Jimmy
Hat and Wisey for solid batting
Special Sandwich of the Season Award goes to Silsoe, for
their Coronation Chicken on Granary, which surpassed Bamville’s
Highly Commended Chorizo and Brie on white.
Orange Cap of Woe: Simon Foster, for running out Paul Wise.
