Disappointingly, our fixture against Cae Glas fell victim to the rubbish weather we've been 'enjoying' for the last couple of weeks.
And even more disappointingly, I didn't get the message - and proceeded to spend half an hour sat outside Whittington Cricket Club wondering where on earth everyone had got to. Still, it might yet turn out to be my most consistent performance of the season...
Hopefully the weather will improve in time for our fixture at Acton Reynolds - scene of Rory Jones' memorable hat-trick last season - next Thursday. I'll keep you posted.
Showing posts with label Cae Glas Ladies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cae Glas Ladies. Show all posts
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
A thrilling victory
Picture the scene: we're almost down and out. Cae Glas Ladies, thanks to an onslaught by somebody looking suspiciously like a man, are ten runs from victory with 14 balls remaining. Surely there's no way back. Is there? Just like Mr Stallone in the Rocky movies, there was.
Step forward our heroes, Rory Jones and Dave Ryder, with honourable mentions to Geraint Jones, Rory's elder brother, Matt Daulby, and our stand-in wicket keeper (again) Brian Cole. Thanks to this quintet, we somehow snatched victory - by five runs.
After batting first, we struggled to 83 all out. That represented something of a recovery after we had been reduced to 2-2 off four overs, then 20-odd for four. Only a handful of our batters made double figures - Dave Ryder, Mike Stokes and Steve Daulby, I think - and we were probably 20 runs short of a good score on another flat Whittington pitch.
Our innings certainly didn't lack drama, though, and one fielder needed the first aid kit for a split finger after one diving stop, while Huw Jones gloved a ball on to his own face.
I went in at number seven or eight and ended not out on two or three, Jamal being the last man to fall LBW in the final over. Jamal's innings was notable for the fact that it was the first time I had seen one of our adult players wearing a helmet. I think he'd seen the Huw incident and decided he didn't fancy a trip to the dentist.
Anyway, our reply started well even if we didn't take wickets. I was grateful to Brian's agility behind the stumps as I struggled to find a decent line opening the bowling, but I didn't go for many runs and even induced a couple of edges that almost carried.
Mike Stokes produced a miserly spell, and after 10 overs, Cae Glas had only made 33. It was the skipper Justin Evans (who's asked me to point out there's a lot more to him than a pair of expensive Puma pads) who made the breakthrough, bowling their Kiwi opener (another male) with his increasingly effective leg spin.
However, their number three (another male) was an accomplished player, who proceeded to play with a great deal of authority. Our total looked worryingly low.
We took a couple more wickets - courtesy of Steve Daulbly, who also opted to bowl slow left arm rather than his usual pace - to leave Cae Glas with 14 balls to make 10 runs, with seven wickets in hand.
And that's when it all happened. Rory bowled the penultimate over, removing the number three courtesy of a smart catch by Matt Daulby. Two balls later there was a run out - courtesy of a brilliant throw by Matt and smart work by Brian to whip the bails off - followed by another wicket for Rory, this time clean bowling the hapless batswoman.
This left the game poised on a knife edge going into the final over. Dave Ryder was bowling with Cae Glas now needing six to win. His first ball produced a wicket, clean bowled. Crucially, it was also a dot ball. Next up, a dot ball, followed by a scrambled single. Then another run out - this time Geraint Jones throwing down the stumps from eight or nine yards. It's a good job his throw hit - they probably would have won it off the overthrows, the ball was travelling so quickly.
Another dot and a run out off the final ball - this time courtesy of Brian behind the stumps - saw us to victory. With hindsight it was an enjoyable. At the time, things were pretty tense, particularly after I managed a couple of inexcusable misfields. I'm just glad they didn't cost us victory...
Step forward our heroes, Rory Jones and Dave Ryder, with honourable mentions to Geraint Jones, Rory's elder brother, Matt Daulby, and our stand-in wicket keeper (again) Brian Cole. Thanks to this quintet, we somehow snatched victory - by five runs.
After batting first, we struggled to 83 all out. That represented something of a recovery after we had been reduced to 2-2 off four overs, then 20-odd for four. Only a handful of our batters made double figures - Dave Ryder, Mike Stokes and Steve Daulby, I think - and we were probably 20 runs short of a good score on another flat Whittington pitch.
Our innings certainly didn't lack drama, though, and one fielder needed the first aid kit for a split finger after one diving stop, while Huw Jones gloved a ball on to his own face.
I went in at number seven or eight and ended not out on two or three, Jamal being the last man to fall LBW in the final over. Jamal's innings was notable for the fact that it was the first time I had seen one of our adult players wearing a helmet. I think he'd seen the Huw incident and decided he didn't fancy a trip to the dentist.
Anyway, our reply started well even if we didn't take wickets. I was grateful to Brian's agility behind the stumps as I struggled to find a decent line opening the bowling, but I didn't go for many runs and even induced a couple of edges that almost carried.
Mike Stokes produced a miserly spell, and after 10 overs, Cae Glas had only made 33. It was the skipper Justin Evans (who's asked me to point out there's a lot more to him than a pair of expensive Puma pads) who made the breakthrough, bowling their Kiwi opener (another male) with his increasingly effective leg spin.
However, their number three (another male) was an accomplished player, who proceeded to play with a great deal of authority. Our total looked worryingly low.
We took a couple more wickets - courtesy of Steve Daulbly, who also opted to bowl slow left arm rather than his usual pace - to leave Cae Glas with 14 balls to make 10 runs, with seven wickets in hand.
And that's when it all happened. Rory bowled the penultimate over, removing the number three courtesy of a smart catch by Matt Daulby. Two balls later there was a run out - courtesy of a brilliant throw by Matt and smart work by Brian to whip the bails off - followed by another wicket for Rory, this time clean bowling the hapless batswoman.
This left the game poised on a knife edge going into the final over. Dave Ryder was bowling with Cae Glas now needing six to win. His first ball produced a wicket, clean bowled. Crucially, it was also a dot ball. Next up, a dot ball, followed by a scrambled single. Then another run out - this time Geraint Jones throwing down the stumps from eight or nine yards. It's a good job his throw hit - they probably would have won it off the overthrows, the ball was travelling so quickly.
Another dot and a run out off the final ball - this time courtesy of Brian behind the stumps - saw us to victory. With hindsight it was an enjoyable. At the time, things were pretty tense, particularly after I managed a couple of inexcusable misfields. I'm just glad they didn't cost us victory...
An apology
Before I post on the most important subject - our match with Cae Glas Ladies last night - I have been asked to apologise to our stalwart statistician and swing bowler extraordinaire, Jamal Penrose.
I've actually referred to him as Jamahl for the entire existence of this blog - so I'm now happy to put the record straight. One question, though: why haven't you read the blog sooner?
I've actually referred to him as Jamahl for the entire existence of this blog - so I'm now happy to put the record straight. One question, though: why haven't you read the blog sooner?
Wednesday, 28 May 2008
Back to earth with a bump... but Steve's off the mark
North West Water's winning start to the season came to an abrupt halt at the hands of Cae Glas Ladies last night.
After the elation of last week's shock victory over The Orthopaedic, it was perhaps inevitable that we would struggle. However, despite posting a modest total of 84, we were still favourites to win with around six overs to go; Cae Glas needed 40-odd with three wickets remaining.
Unfortunately, our killer instinct deserted us at the crucial moment and Cae Glas inched home with four balls to spare. We were gutted.
Things stated promisingly. We won the toss and batted first, with Brian Cole and Rory Jones opening on our adopted home ground of Whittington. We got off to a decent start too. Brian, a classy left hander, unleashed a glorious drive through extra cover in the first over, while Rory's good form continued after his heroics against the Orthopaedic last week.
However, Brian was bowled and his father Gareth failed to hang around. Things got worse when Rory, who had raced to 17 with a succession of boundaries, was run out when our skipper Justin Evans called him through for a sharp single.
Justin - sporting very posh new pads - looked in good form before missing a straight one. Mike Stokes, making his first appearance of the season, joined Steve Daulby at the crease - with Steve opening his account for the season after last week's duck in Gobowen.
His departure brought me to the crease with the score at 40-odd for five, and when Mike was caught in the next over, we were struggling at 48-6 off 10 overs.
I was joined by Geraint Jones, and we managed to survive, taking the score to 82 in the final over before I managed to run Geraint out.
Until that point, we'd been making decent progress, even if it was a bit slower than it should have been. I even hit three boundaries in my 26no - more than I scored in total last season. Geraint batted really well for his 14 and really deserved more.
Jamahl Penrose hit two off the final ball and we ended on 84 - probably about 15 short of a decent score.
Our reply started well. I opened the bowling with Steve and we kept things tight (I conceded three off my two overs), before Mike struck and a run out courtesy of Rory Jones put us in the driving seat.
When Justin took two wickets in his spell - one courtesy of a sharp catch in the gully by Greg Stokes - we looked favourites. Huw Jones' produced an impressive spell, taking 2-7 including a smart stumping courtesy of Brian, our stand-in wicket keeper in the absence of Pete Danby.
But the last six overs of the innings cost us dearly. Cae Glas's ninth wicket stand was resolute and, despite one or two chances, in truth we never looked like breaking the partnership.
Cae Glas secured victory with four balls remaining, to leave us licking our wounds and hoping for a better performance against a new side, JT Hughes, next week.
After the elation of last week's shock victory over The Orthopaedic, it was perhaps inevitable that we would struggle. However, despite posting a modest total of 84, we were still favourites to win with around six overs to go; Cae Glas needed 40-odd with three wickets remaining.
Unfortunately, our killer instinct deserted us at the crucial moment and Cae Glas inched home with four balls to spare. We were gutted.
Things stated promisingly. We won the toss and batted first, with Brian Cole and Rory Jones opening on our adopted home ground of Whittington. We got off to a decent start too. Brian, a classy left hander, unleashed a glorious drive through extra cover in the first over, while Rory's good form continued after his heroics against the Orthopaedic last week.
However, Brian was bowled and his father Gareth failed to hang around. Things got worse when Rory, who had raced to 17 with a succession of boundaries, was run out when our skipper Justin Evans called him through for a sharp single.
Justin - sporting very posh new pads - looked in good form before missing a straight one. Mike Stokes, making his first appearance of the season, joined Steve Daulby at the crease - with Steve opening his account for the season after last week's duck in Gobowen.
His departure brought me to the crease with the score at 40-odd for five, and when Mike was caught in the next over, we were struggling at 48-6 off 10 overs.
I was joined by Geraint Jones, and we managed to survive, taking the score to 82 in the final over before I managed to run Geraint out.
Until that point, we'd been making decent progress, even if it was a bit slower than it should have been. I even hit three boundaries in my 26no - more than I scored in total last season. Geraint batted really well for his 14 and really deserved more.
Jamahl Penrose hit two off the final ball and we ended on 84 - probably about 15 short of a decent score.
Our reply started well. I opened the bowling with Steve and we kept things tight (I conceded three off my two overs), before Mike struck and a run out courtesy of Rory Jones put us in the driving seat.
When Justin took two wickets in his spell - one courtesy of a sharp catch in the gully by Greg Stokes - we looked favourites. Huw Jones' produced an impressive spell, taking 2-7 including a smart stumping courtesy of Brian, our stand-in wicket keeper in the absence of Pete Danby.
But the last six overs of the innings cost us dearly. Cae Glas's ninth wicket stand was resolute and, despite one or two chances, in truth we never looked like breaking the partnership.
Cae Glas secured victory with four balls remaining, to leave us licking our wounds and hoping for a better performance against a new side, JT Hughes, next week.
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
The wonderful British summer
Well, we're meant to be playing Cae Glas Ladies tonight but, judging by the rain beating against the window at the moment, it may not happen.
I'm gutted. I'm going to miss next week's match so I was really hoping to get a game tonight. Oh well, maybe the weather with suddenly improve and our first fixture at our new home, Whittington, will go ahead after all. Somehow I doubt it, though.
I'm gutted. I'm going to miss next week's match so I was really hoping to get a game tonight. Oh well, maybe the weather with suddenly improve and our first fixture at our new home, Whittington, will go ahead after all. Somehow I doubt it, though.
Friday, 23 May 2008
What a night...
Well, what a way to kick off the new season - victory over our bogey team for the first time in a good few years.
How did we do it? I'm not sure to be honest. When I arrived (late) at the ground, our team looked a bit thin - we were missing our regular captain Justin Evans, while some of our more consistent performers, including Brian Cole, Mike Stokes and Dave Ryder, weren't able to make it.
Did I honestly think we had a chance? Not really, no, especially when our stand in skipper Carl Dulson told me to get my pads on and open with him after we had won the toss.
We started well, Carl hitting the ball with his usual power; me blocking. Unfortunately for me, a miss-timed swipe against a slow bowler ended my stay at the crease for six. I was disappointed because I felt good, particularly against the quicker bowlers.
We then stuttered mid-innings - with Steve Daulby and son Matt both making ducks - but we were resuced by Carl's 24 and impressive performances from two of our younger players, Rory Jones (16) and Paddy Richards (13).
And thanks to a late flourish from veteran member Gareth Cole, we ended the innings on 77. The pitch was playing ok, but the long grass in the outfield meant boundaries were at a premium. It still looked 20 runs short as a defendable total, but at least we knew we had something to bowl at.
From the off, we bowled well and fielded impressively. Ian struck in his second over after opening the bowling with Steve (who made up for his duck with a miserly spell) and the Orthopaedic were under pressure.
Although we didn't take many wickets, we kept the bowling tight and even got away with a couple of missed chances. With eight overs to go, the Orhtopaedic had reached 39 and we knew we had an opportunity. As the pressure increased, we grabbed a couple more wickets as our opposition went for their shots.
Even I chipped in with my fielding, holding on to a catch off Rory that seemed to hang in the air for an eternity, and managing to stop a boundary by sticking a hand out more in hope than expectation. Paddy also produced one stunning stop, throwing himself full length to prevent anything other than a single, while Ian's throwing was perfect all night.
But everybody bowled and fielded well and, with one over to go, the Orthopaedic required five to win. Carl - taking his captain's responsibility seriously - bowled it beautifully and they ended up a run short, sparking scenes of celebrations in Gobowen. Forget the Champions League final, this was the result that mattered.
Next up, we face Cae Glas Ladies at our new 'home' Whittington. Hopefully our winning run will continue...
How did we do it? I'm not sure to be honest. When I arrived (late) at the ground, our team looked a bit thin - we were missing our regular captain Justin Evans, while some of our more consistent performers, including Brian Cole, Mike Stokes and Dave Ryder, weren't able to make it.
Did I honestly think we had a chance? Not really, no, especially when our stand in skipper Carl Dulson told me to get my pads on and open with him after we had won the toss.
We started well, Carl hitting the ball with his usual power; me blocking. Unfortunately for me, a miss-timed swipe against a slow bowler ended my stay at the crease for six. I was disappointed because I felt good, particularly against the quicker bowlers.
We then stuttered mid-innings - with Steve Daulby and son Matt both making ducks - but we were resuced by Carl's 24 and impressive performances from two of our younger players, Rory Jones (16) and Paddy Richards (13).
And thanks to a late flourish from veteran member Gareth Cole, we ended the innings on 77. The pitch was playing ok, but the long grass in the outfield meant boundaries were at a premium. It still looked 20 runs short as a defendable total, but at least we knew we had something to bowl at.
From the off, we bowled well and fielded impressively. Ian struck in his second over after opening the bowling with Steve (who made up for his duck with a miserly spell) and the Orthopaedic were under pressure.
Although we didn't take many wickets, we kept the bowling tight and even got away with a couple of missed chances. With eight overs to go, the Orhtopaedic had reached 39 and we knew we had an opportunity. As the pressure increased, we grabbed a couple more wickets as our opposition went for their shots.
Even I chipped in with my fielding, holding on to a catch off Rory that seemed to hang in the air for an eternity, and managing to stop a boundary by sticking a hand out more in hope than expectation. Paddy also produced one stunning stop, throwing himself full length to prevent anything other than a single, while Ian's throwing was perfect all night.
But everybody bowled and fielded well and, with one over to go, the Orthopaedic required five to win. Carl - taking his captain's responsibility seriously - bowled it beautifully and they ended up a run short, sparking scenes of celebrations in Gobowen. Forget the Champions League final, this was the result that mattered.
Next up, we face Cae Glas Ladies at our new 'home' Whittington. Hopefully our winning run will continue...
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