Match
reports
Post-tour love-ins, WAG promises and general lack of affection
for the fixture meant that for the second
year in a row the Cavs put out a new side of regulars,
mates and brothers against Essendon. Always great hosts,
friendly, nice blokes, good sandwich-makers and sticklers
for the much maligned 'timed game', Essendon are the side
the Cavaliers have played most - this being our 10th encounter
(Hollybush are second with 9 games, stats-fans), but no
win since 2003!
So, on a hot - but thankfully cloudy day - the Cavaliers
welcomed two new bloods into the recently refurbished away
dressing room. Player A, the second big-hitting signing
from Harpenden 2s [joining up with drinking-buddy Todd]
in the from of Phil Lythgoe; squad
number 66. Step up player B - Lee Verdon - a welcome
addition to the antipodeans fine-masters pot. A true South
African all-rounder (well he both surfs and bowls) and by
far the blondest player ever to wear an (old) Cavaliers
shirt. The latter only became true during fielding as Lee
wore a full going-out shirt to bat much to the embarrassment
of the club captain. He was only at the disco for one run.
In addition, a very reluctant Rob Wise was dragged along
(actually making his fifth Cavs appearance, never having
batted before and with 2 wickets) - surely he was just to
play a 'bits and pieces role' ; he didn't really want to
be there..
Despite Jays protests (blimey, these match reports take
bloody ages) for a game of HSBC Pro40, local rules meant
a timed game - 20 overs from 18:30 stuff. Jay won the toss
and chose to bat. The batting innings was a skilful exercise
in patience, timing and occasional aggression with Jay playing
by far his best and most important innings for at least
a year. With a Batchwood-affected Todd Baines unusually
failing to score heavily, and a quick 18 from Paul Wise,
it was left to Jay (68) and Ellis (33) to see off some good
bowling (Greese / Lippiatt - as usual), steady the 10-30
over period and then step on the gas. Wild bounce was the
order of the day and this saw 4 Cavs getting bowled - including
Boyd-Clarke (5) and Lee Verdon (1) - surely their visas
need checking.
Phil Lythgoe hit 18 - watched by his dad who, on a spying
mission for Harpenden Sunday XI, had cycled the Tour-de-Hatfield
- a full 90 minutes from Harpenden - to watch his very tall
son. Rob Wise stepped in at number 8 (in fact in both innings
the number 4 and 8 batsmen scored lots of runs), The fireworks
that followed were akin to Jim Burton in the famous Hatfield
Game. Fours and a huge Six were delivered by the Lee-Dixon
look-alike (youngest of the 8 Wise-brothers) in only about
17 balls.
Note : the Wises scored 59% of the Cavs runs..
--- CAVALIERS 204 for 8 off 43 overs, declared ---
After a great tea it was the turn of the non-batsmen. Russell
Timms did not face a ball until he got behind the castle
- Gareth Lloyd enjoying a day off. A great effort from Rusty
and real competition now for the Hatfield game when both
keepers are available. Firmin, TJ and Penhaligon, M opened
the bowling and were unchanged until 2 overs after drinks
(which also saw the start of the final 20-overs). Firmin
put to bed an expensive tour run-wise and took a high c&b.
Matt also scooped one wicket. By about the 25th over, however,
Cavs had let things slip and Essendon were well on course
to win the game (130-odd for 2, I think). Step forwards
a great Phil Lythgoe catch to oust the big-hitting colonial-African,
then Lee Verdon with a couple of cheeky wickets.
Some tidy spin from Lance and Paul Wise and a great improvement
from Verdon [his last 4 overs were 3 wickets for only 10
runs] as his 9-overs progressed meant the Cavs needed to
bowl the remaining 4/5 Essendon batsmen in the final 10
overs. Up to the ochie, young Roberto Wise and the fun began.
Rob took two wickets in his first 3 overs which bought us
to over 37 - the final 6-balls of the day. With experienced
league-bowler Lippiatt and the impressive Al-Haq at the
other end (32 not out) it was pressure on. A close field,
high-drama and chess-like concentration. Ball two from Rob,
was flicked by Lippiatt to the leg-side - however, Firmin
TJ was there - a spider awaiting its (fly-slip) prey - and
the catch was taken. Cavaliers had won and it felt great
!
---ESSENDON 181 all out from 37.2 overs---
Much celebration, singing in the (new) showers, all-round
congratulations and hand-shakes with the oppo followed -
although not in that order ! One of the Cavaliers grittiest,
most memorable and most exciting fixtures ended with a Cavs
win.
Many thanks to Essendon for hosting a great day and having
us over 10 times now!
Cavs versus Essendon : W (6) D (3) L (1)
Man of the Match : Rob Wise
Orange Cap : One of those rare games when
everyone played very well; carry-over.
Champagne Moment : The run out or 4 incident
involving all 22 players, 40 spectators and 6 dogs.
Just a quick word about Matt 'Mayor of Hackney' Penhaligon,
aka the Truro Express. Playing in his last appearance as
a regular-cavalier before a move back to the land of pasties,
golden beaches, surf-chicks and Latvian fruit-pickers. Thanks
for the efforts both with ball and bat and - perhaps - a
2007 Cavaliers tour to Cornwall..
