Match
reports
The Cavaliers travelled to play Slip End CC in Luton (not
Slip End, that would be too easy) and were treated before
the game to kite flying, an Indian wedding and a panorama
of Luton that brought a tear to Jimmy Hat’s eye. How
lovely Marsh Farm and Vauxhall factory look on a hazy summers
day. The game would prove to be equally intriguing.
Jay Wise won the toss and confidently declared that he
would bat and strode to the wicket (in a pair of whites
that only an 8 yr old would fit into) together with Todd
Baines. The misfit slip enders took to the field clad in
combinations of black trainers, t-shirts and shell suits
but proved that appearances can be deceiving as they started
bowling fairly quick and accurately. Indeed, Jay Wise fell
in only the 2nd over sending a hard chance to third man
and was out without troubling the scorers. Like so many
great captains before him, including Botham, Vaughan and
Sean O’Brien, Jay is finding it hard to accumulate
runs and captain the side at present. He will bounce back
and a good talking to himself on the fence sty will stand
him in good stead.
In walked Lance, who proved to be the steady rudder at
the Cavaliers helm. Together with Bainsey a partnership
of 108 was formed which included some good running, sound
defence and fantastic attacking shots. Bainsey in particular
was in outstanding form clubbing 2 huge sixes and a series
of 4s, whilst always playing each ball on its merits. These
two rattled along and provided a great platform in the opening
20overs before Todd finally succumbed for 55. SNR did not
follow up on recent good form by feathering an edge for
one, but Brindo – fresh from 2 weeks of fun and frolics
in South Africa – picked up the scoring again and
looked very controlled. Another partnership developed and
took the Cavaliers towards the 200 mark. Quick wickets started
to fall as the Cavs correctly started throwing caution to
the wind knowing there was plenty left in the hutch. Lance
and Brindo fell for 63 and 32 respectively before JimmyHat
ran himself out for 4 and Lager Lloyd smashed a cracking
drive straight down the Gregory of the only fielder within
30yards of the shot. Adam was out slogging before the lower
sixth were called upon to see out the overs. FT lasted longer
than his 2 ball innings last week by making it to 3 balls
before getting out the same way he has got out for the last
10 years…..slogging high and being caught on the boundary.
Another duck for the diaries. TimmyF and Tim Firmin nudge
a few at the end to make sure the Cavaliers faced their
full 40 over quota and with 221 on the board, a very good
total was set.
With the ball in hand, the Cavs knew that Slip end would
need to attack from the start but could not have prepared
for what happened next. The entire Slip End team set out
to play like Mahendra Dhoni from the very first ball and
tried to dispatch each one for six. An incredible number
of balls missed the bat and/or stumps by a whisker whilst
others went for 4 or 6 as each batsmen went at everthing.
It was a full 15.3 overs before the first defensive shot
was even attempted. Fraser made up for his disappointment
with some tremendous bowling seeing edges fly passed slips
and others dropped before he got his rewards and finished
a great spell with figures of 6-1-30-2. The barrage of attacking
shots continued against JimmyHat and Firms, but both picked
up a wicket each as the Cavs kept their heads whilst Slip
End tried to win the game inside 20 overs. The wickets continued
to tumble and Brindo came to the party with 3 wickets, which
effectively finished the game off as the home side ran out
of firepower. A good run out (by a Firms / TimmyF combo)
and wickets each for TimmyF and LBC ended the game after
only 25overs. Slip End all out for 123. A first win for
Jay Wise as captain as he and the rest of the 5th year take
a week off to experience the bars, crowds, atmosphere and
prisons of Germany 2006.
Ready
for the Tour
Seen
your Official Squad Number?
