Where to start? 30overs is an interesting format. Do you take it steady for the first ten to keep wickets in hand and then play like its a t20? Do you blaze from the start? Do you just try and avoid being bowled out? The last is an option because our opposition in Div30 South include three 2XI teams. This game being one of them. Their 1stXI play in the same division as our Twos.
As skipper my main aim is to provide development opportunities for all the team which means everyone gets to be involved in the game. Thus you have to try and make the games last as long as possible. So our merry band headed down the congested a38 to Wrington Rec. We are lucky at Lodway to have the trifecta: great bar, scenic looking ground, great pitch and field. Wrington Rec has a passably good bar, quiet a good view, an indifferent bouncing pitch and what can only be described a a potato (out)field. I reckon the lawnmower has a plough attachment to get the ridge and furrow so deep and maintain the concentric circles. Plus there is an astro pitch on the square to boot.
Our team comprised four men (20s, 40s, 50s and 60s) and seven teens the youngest being 12. Our opposition were all men bar their opening bowler who was 18 but must have recently grown judging by the ankle swingers. Last time we met at ours we had been bowled out for under the ton.
With the exclamation of 'tails, tails, never fails' the resulting 'head' meant our heroes were put into bat. We have been trying to rotate the strike better this year. And Wobbly and Popey (who has been in form) took us to 60 for 0 off ten. We had arranged water breaks every ten but Popey turned it down. a decision he later rued as he looked increasingly uncomfortable and finished his scratchy innings lbw on 23 to their old 1stXI skipper Rudgey. Out came Williamson senior who maintained the steady pace of the innings. Wobbly serenely progressed until he retired on 50no. Bell joined the fray with about 10 overs left (107 for 1 off 20) determined to increase the pace for the final third. Charlie got out before he got going to a fine nick to the keeper. King senior cut the first ball he faced for four, second delivery was a no ball beamer to the box and third ball another well executed cut, low, through the covers caught instinctively by Rudgey, a goal keeper. What a catch. Bennett soon followed. Williamson's watch concluded on 24 with one scooped back to the bowler Blakey. Dilan provided a real spark of intention with the bat and scored faster than a run a ball and Charlie Lane was bowled with the last delivery of the innings. 157 for 7 off 30. Our second highest total of the season. Noone has bowled us out. Real progress and more work to do on tempo.
Wrington kept us well entertained with their humorous commentary thoughout the match. We took inspiration from this into the field where we were more chatty than normal. Shout out to Dilan for rallying the team the most. Our fielding, particularly in backing up has improved enormously. There were very few miss-fields which was surprising given the state of the outfield and no dropped catches, a rarity at our level given the aggression of the format.
That said our opening bowlers, Alfie and McGovern didnt get us off to the normal tidy start we have been used to this year. However Paddy did get their opener to toe one up to gully where Popey took his second catch in two games. Both were swapped out after 2 overs. We turned to the spin of Bennet and Faulkner both who produced some very good deliveries but control in the field evaded the skipper. The heat was exacting its toll and we stopped to regroup. Not long til the cider sundaes could be ordered.
A switch to Wobbly and Pasty was sure to bring results. We had more control as Wobbly was the most frugal bowler (1 for 17 off 6, everyone else went at 7s). Shout out to Charlie Bell for his keeping. A leg side magician and with successive length balls, one goes above head height and the next ankle high, that would challenge anybody. Charlie Lane replaced Pasty. He has natural pace but hasnt played too much. When he bowled straight he troubled all who faced him, ending with a clatter of stumps. Wobbly's fine spell extended the game and brought him an lbw. In the meantime one of their batters retired on 50.
The game finished in the 25th over. A much improved performance one year on. We gave them 30 more extras than they gave us. That improvement would have taken the game to the last over. Something to work on. Although by rule our wides cost two runs. We stayed in the bar for a pint, some squashies and fangtastics, to cool down and reflect. Thanks to those who helped with the scoring and umpiring and lift giving. Progress and pride in how we played our cricket. With some practice, particularly at bowling line and length and tempo of batting, the basics of fielding and the art of captaincy we will turn our performances into wins. Forza the Fours!