Castlethorpe v Stony Stratford, 3rd July,
MK Sunday League
Very little to do in the
field again, in fact had time to have an ice lolly while was stationed on the
boundary. Woke up in time to swoop in from the covers for a direct hit run out
off the last ball of their innings. Tried to hold the innings together and then
top-edged one into his face but nobody even noticed, including his watching
wife. Finished his innings with blood all over him and now sporting a dark red
seam shape in his cheek. Last man out for 46 when was run out by the very man
who he ran out off the last ball of their innings. Weird.
Still carrying a multitude
of nicknames (latest mostly employed by Nev) and was called upon by Nige to
bowl at their left hander after just one over of leg spin. Ended up bowling
three short spells and took a couple of wickets, plus a handy little catch at short midwicket off
Wills. Opened the innings and tried to pull a ball that followed him and ended
up just spooning it to cover for a duck. Once again his dismissal was greeted
with laughter from his pavilion based fan club.
Enjoyed the first half of
their innings patrolling the pavilion boundary and was suddenly asked to bowl a
few overs much to his surprise after the drinks break. Hit th pitch and his
considerable pace forced their opener to be dropped twice in one over when in
the nineties and ended up wicketless. A poor fantasy point day ended with a
nick behind for a duck.
Too injured to bowl due to a
problem with his ankle / shin / rib (you decide). Did move around smartly enough at third man to take a catch off
Jonesy to dismiss their centurion. Couldn’t follow up his ton the day before
and perished for 26 being caught and bowled off another one that ‘got big’ on
him.
Two demon spells, the first
with little reward other than their left hander, the second bringing him up to
four wickets for 57. Took a catch at point to make it two in two games (two in
a season he joked). Went in at number 5 just as their two accurate openers came
off for some lamer spin to face and tucked in well, making 31 in rapid time.
Eventually perished to a running catch on the boundary.
Rolled back the decades
behind the timbers with some sharp work, leading to a catch plus a couple of
stumpings standing up to Rusty and Tango.
Will not be able to walk until Wednesday as a result though. Dropped
himself down to number 6 in the order as a result, and threatened some brutality
including a thumping straight four, before unluckily chopping one onto his
stumps when on just 9. Repeatedly heard the words, “nobody likes turn and
bounce” repeated back at him throughout his innings.
Bowled first over of their
innings but it took us six balls to realise they had a left hander opening. So
he came off after one. Then back on again and ended up bowling 7 taking one
wicket as his length tightened up. Lurking down the order at number 7 and he
blatted a quick 14 off their spinners, until for some unexplicable reason he decided
to start defending, and then got himself bowled.
Came on late in the innings
and did pick up a wicket courtesy of a smart catch from Tango. Loped around the
boundary for a long time, unleashing his huge hurl every now and again. Got off
the mark with the bat with an elegant flick off his legs before succumbing to
their leg spinner.
A lot of decent boundary
work despite at one stage doing mid off to mid off, but Dion failed to stop
anything with his infamous mobs today. Looked settled with the bat before
played all round a straight one and went for a duck. Amazing show of disgust at
his own dismissal with a plethora of swear words was quite a shock.
Massive energy in the field
as ever, wearing shades on a cloudy day, but at least he looked good. Bizarrely
decided to go for one catch off Steve Ball with one hand rather than simply
stick two up in the air, and spilled it. Made up for it with a snag at point of
Rusty late in the innings. Came out to bat full of confidence and greatly
impressed the oppo with his ‘Mongoose’ – attracting much goading to use it
properly. Following 2 runs his timbers went.
Undertook a considerable
amount of boundary work in the field, with only minor tantrums. Finally go a
bowl and delivered with one wicket and contributed to another run out drawing
the batsman down the pitch. Safely hidden down the batting order at number 11
and a cool head to come out an ease Mickey to a 50, or so we thought. Answered
taunts from the oppo to hit out by blocking resolutely, promising he would slog
in a bit, until his partner let him down running himself out.