Match Report V Stonesfield II – 23/05/2009

Having turned up at Wantage with this time a very enthusiastic 11, things were already looking much better for club Wantage & Grove. The 2^nd positive as we would find out throughout the day was the gathering crowd, and when I mean crowd I mean CROWDS. Most of Zimbabwe had turned out, bringing there much loved supporting prowess and Mexican skills..!! Wave, now that’s a wave..!!

Anyway, I divulge, back to the cricket. I lost the toss, no problems, we are very ambiguous as a team, giving both batting and bowling a go. So put into bat we were, odd choice bearing in mind they had 10, and only 2 bowlers. Well 4 bowled, but only two were of a standard worth mentioning.

Colin and Ollie offered the first runs of the day, making positive starts, before being bowled on 12 and caught on 20 respectively. I came to the crease at 3, and played probably the worst I can remember, well at least since records began. I rode my luck to 40, still u make your own luck, right..?! Barry “lion king, Simba, oh crap look at the Lion at Chessington Zoo with no Maine” Martin came next as this is where things get a little tense. A good 37 was added by Basra, but a decent run out had him pondering back to the hut. No need to mention the hand bags aftermath, in Barry’s defence he was the innocent party. Shout of the day goes to Nick, who after keeping the hot chicken addicts of Wantage supplied, arrived at the wicket only to be out a few balls later for 0, thanks for turning up mate. Ian Challand rock in next and decides that the bowling quite rightly needs teaching a lesson, spank, bash and wallop followed including a quality six, behind square and into the trees, Ian lasted for 45 runs, but a good innings all the same.

The rest of the team adding another 42 to take the total to 203 all out. Special mention must go to Chaz “stroke player” Boshell, with a very late cut for four. Did we hear about for the rest of the day, oh YES..!!

James Mabbett   Caught    16
Ryan Martin       Bowled    8
Steve Bramley   Bowled   14
Chaz Boshell     Not Out    4
Stewart Bullpitt   Bowled   0

Right onto the bowling, well what can I say, we are blessed in this department, with 6 bowlers used, a further 3 not, apologies to those that didn’t bowl, still plenty of time throughout the season. Alongside our bowling our fielding is something that must get special praise. We have started the season on fire in the field, backing up, barely any miss-fields, catches being hung onto, need I go on. It makes such a difference to have players with decent arms and good concentration levels, YES even you Ryan, who we think had an outer body experience for a good few overs on Saturday. The figures are below. Ollie Taylor deserves special mention as the pick of the bowling although the other 5 loosened them up for you, well done. The other big find of the day was that of Stewart “im a Jedi and like Girls” Bullpitt, who kept wicket extremely well, baring in mind he hadnt done for a while. Hardly anything was missed, good glove work and catching makes it so much easier for the rest of the team. Good skills..!!

Overall a much better day, played in the hot hot heat of Wantage, with 30 points being snaffled up against a spirited team. Special mentions personally to Julie’s tea, with Neil and co helping in the background, it was fantastic, many thanks. The other thanks go to the ground staff, Mike Hill, John Pilcher and Steve “I like tractors me…” Bramley as the pitch looks and plays very well for what is still early in the season.

Well done team and the supporters, we got back on track. Next up is a cup game V’s Ducklington this coming sat, away.

Captain Duncan to you.