Bowling isn't our thing really and being down to 9 meant we probably had 4 maybe 5 specialist bowlers. This consisted of Pistol, who's main job is to buy wickets. Ciaran who has only been playing a couple of years, mainly in friendly cricket. Chris who is a wicketkeeper. Me with my dodgy back, Achilles etc. Gary who has a broken finger and hadn't bowled for 2 weeks. Maybe Jamie to fill in. I was hoping we could drag it out to the last 20 overs, which meant bowling an hour before tea and an 75 mins post tea.
As it turned out I needn't of worried, the guys as a group bowled out of their skins.
Pistol and Ciaran set the tone. The pre-tea session was 40-1 off 15 overs. Pistol rolling down the hill and knocking over a Kent Div 1 batter bowled. Keeping the batsman pinned to the crease with some added movement. Ciaran doing the donkey work up hill and being unlucky not to snare a batter with a couple of edges not going to hand. Skipper Saunders, having watched plenty of test cricket decided to do the 1 over before tea spin tactic and sneaked in a maiden.
Post tea Skipper continued to throw down some darts keeping the batsman tied down. Chris came on at the top end and started to work through the oppo batting, to everyone's surprise. Bowling the same full length as the opening bowlers he started to benefit from the pressure and catches were chipped into the circle. Chris now charging down the hill like a telltubby on speed made the oppo crumble to 113-8, backed up by some good catching Arvind's sharp chance at gully was the pick of the catches. Chris was on a hat-trick at one point. Not bad for a keeper? However, skipper and Chris needed a well deserved breather and made way for Gary and Jamie. Had things gone to plan, that might of been the end of it. Matt (Barton) hit a massive six off Gary and then charged down the deck, missing the ball on the way. Jake couldn't quite deal with the bounce and a tough chance went down. At the other end Jamie had a reasonable catch dropped off the number 10. It was only a matter of time, wasn't it?
Well the number 10 could hit a ball and that's what he did. Matt can hit a ball and that's what he did. Jamie and Gary disappeared for 58 in 4 overs. It was a big ask for both the lads to bowl against two fine hitters of the ball. Ciaran and Skipper came back on but now the batsman were showing how flat the deck was and the next 4 overs going for 30. Highlight in all this hitting was the number 10 hitting a massive six that hit the tiles on the house across the road. The 100 partnership came and went. Pistol and Chris were recalled and after a couple more expensive overs Pistol finally bowled Watsham for 60. The number 11 didn't last to long thankfully and CBF sneaked home by 33 runs.
A fantastic day's cricket had finished but Stone CC were brilliant in every respect on and off the pitch. We had some food and beers after the game. Chatted with the oppo, had a good laugh and enjoyed the hospitality. Weary yes, but what a great day.
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Topic: CBF Midweek Game v Stone CC Match Report and Discussion Thread (Read 10829 times)