Saturday 10th May 2008 away to Over Wallop

 

We entered the game more in trepidation than expectation with what could
kindly be called an under strength team, but with opportunities for 
people to get the chance to shine that they may not have otherwise got.

The day started poorly with the skipper Buckingham losing the toss on a 
sticky wicket after which we were asked to bat first.

Our opening pair of Orange and Buckingham started steadily and gradually
picked up the pace before Orange fell for 21 with the total on 34 
playing what could only be described as an ‘interesting’ shot on a 
pitch of this nature, this would later be unanimously voted as 
‘shot of the day’. This was not a complement!! 
Swift joined Buckingham and the score moved along to 58 before Swift 
lobbed a pie to deep mid wicket and was retired for a scratchy 5. 
Morris joined the skipper with the innings precariously balanced at 58 
for 2 and went about building the innings towards a decent total, 
Morris played the most reserved of innings (well relatively!!) to move 
the score forward in a steady manner until Buckingham went for 44 with 
the score on 86. The next partnership of 12 between Morris and 
Appleton (P) consisted of two sixes despatched by Morris into the trees 
over the bowlers head. Appleton went without troubling the scorers and 
was quickly followed by debutant Adams also without scoring. 
Morris and Hooper then set about carrying on the good work. Morris moved
towards and then completed his maiden ‘first class’ (well league anyway)
half century before being caught behind for 50 exactly. A second league 
debutant Frost (K) joined Hooper and they batted sensibly to try and get
the total to 150, with two overs to go the score stood at 139 and the 
watching team had fingers crossed to see if we could reach the targeted 
figure. They needn’t have worry, we reached 150 in the 44th over thanks 
to Hooper lofting a six into the trees and then Frost following suit by 
smashing his own six (only slightly further into the trees), the final 
over saw a further onslaught from Frost with a scintillating extra cover 
drive undoubtedly the best shot of the day, Frost followed with a second
boundary in the over and unselfishly was bowled swinging at the final 
ball of the innings.

The reply was hindered early doors by some miserly bowling from Payne 
and Swift, Payne struck first with a wicket in the 7th over with the 
score on 3, Swift followed on with wickets in the 8th over (score still 
on 3) and the 10th over with 13 on the board. Swift was rested after six
of his overs as Payne ploughed on through his 12 over spell with his 
arm gradually getting lower by the ball. Cordery came into the fray and 
bowled a steady spell (8-3-23-0) as did new boy Adams (5-0-15-0)  and 
Orange (8-0-26-0) with his wily pies. Payne staggered on through his 
spell taking a wicket in his 8th over before scooping 1 in his 11th 
and 2 in his final over to end with figures on 12-3-49-5, at triumph 
for perseverance I’m sure you will agree. Swift came back for his final 
6 overs taking 1 wicket for 2 runs in his spell to end with figures on 
12-7-12-3. An honourable mention must go to Cory Pye who played at very 
short notice and did some great work in the field including a crucial 
intervention by blocking a fiercely struck drive  to Cordery who 
complete the run out with a direct hit removing Over Wallop’s opening 
batsman and potentially changing the course of the game. It should not 
be underestimated the importance of the catches from Orange (x2), 
Morris, Cordery and Appleton (P) with the only blemishes being a tracer 
hit back at Cordery off his own bowling (a very harsh  50p fine) and 
Orange dropping one over the boundary for a maximum.

A very good win and positive vibes abound for the season to come.