Candovers vs Wield, Sunday 24th July
Weather – Sunshine at last!!!
Match summary – A well deserved draw against great opposition
After Yorkie's slight incident, for the first time this millennium someone else had to sort out a team. This monumental task fell to Max and I which, with the usual Wield lack of communication meant we arrived at the Candovers with 12 players!!!!
Dougie won the toss and inserted the opposition!!!!!
Buoyed by our stunning win against the same team on Thursday we took to the field in good spirits which continued as Aidan opened the bowling with an excellent mix of great balls and double bouncers. The later saw off Richard W as he scooped one to Michael B. Tom then repeated the shot and Candovers were 2 down.
Unfortunately this is were our luck and good spirits stopped as ex county player Nick strode to the crease to join Freddie.
Hector had snaffled Nick on Thursday and revenge was in the air as he proceeded to smash our bowling to all parts, Freddie joined in with at lot less style but a similar outcome.
On the smallest ground we play on and with the ball flying to all parts who would our skipper call on to stop the madness?
Amazingly and cruelly it was I........Bollox!!!!
Freddie thrashed a couple and then Nick drilled one to mid wicket, still recovering from bubonic plague I tried to shout catch it only to squeak something less audable!! I turned to short mid wicket to find Jack (quite short) pluck this rocket out of the air!!!! A brilliant catch which I am sure surprised Jack as much as it did his father!!!!
Nick walked off wondering how he had got out to such rubbish bowling and Dougie stood contemplating the brilliance of his captaincy!!! With Candovers danger man out we managed to slow the run rate and sneak a few more wickets.
With every run important Robin chased a ball towards the road, in a stunning piece of world class fielding he slid to stop the ball only to find his knee and the trench he had dug stopping any forward motion!!!..... The ball trickled over the boundary as we all tried not to laugh!!!
This pointless but hilarious fielding would not go unrivalled as 2 overs later Dougie tried the exact same slide in the exact same corner of the ground with the exact same result!!!.... This time we laughed!!!!!
A couple more wickets from myself and a couple from Dougie meant even after the onslaught we walked off for tea needing just over 200 to win!!
A fantastic tea was had by all including the entire Candover valley Mum's and Toddler group!!!!
I opened with Thursday's hero Toby and spirits were high...for a few minutes until Toby took the slow walk back to the pavilion!!!!
I was joined by Jack who played well until he got a beauty that seamed back up the hill.
Michael B appeared and we had a chance (for 3 balls) until he chipped one to mid wicket and departed for 12!!!!
Hector (aka Margot) arrived at the crease and the score started to move until I edged one behind and walked!!!!! Second time that weekend.... when has that ever happened!!!!!
Matt B came and went thanks to the laziest prod seen on a cricket ground in years and with a steady stream of wickets our chances of a victory were disappearing quicker than a rat up an aquaduct!!!
Margot played some stunning shots to record his maiden Wield 50, while the rest of the late order hung around long enough for us to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat....Again!!!
Tony
