28th August 2021
Link to Play Cricket Result – https://mynyddisamaeshafn.play-cricket.com/website/results/4801255
After many weeks of washed-out fixtures, the weather set fair and we knew we had a game on at Carmel.
The outfield looked like whoever had cut it just gave up near the end, with one strip behind the square uncut and clumps of cuttings everywhere else. It didn’t look like there would be many boundaries. Clearly what I should have said at the time was it didn’t look like WE would get many boundaries!
We lost the toss and were asked to field.
Tom and Leighton opened the bowling and were very tidy. Tom’s pace (1 run conceded after 4 overs) and Leighton’s movement kept the run rate low, but the occasional sweep to cow (amongst many that did not connect) saw a boundary or two in the first 8 overs. Rhys their opening bat clearly liked to sweep and the field adjusted.
After 8 overs, Prashad and Venkat came on. Prashad looked very threatening. Venkat struggled to find the right length and Rhys clubbed a few boundaries down legside. But in his third over Venkat saw their no2 caught, driving to Siv at mid-off. (31-1).
Next over Prashad joined in, bowling their No3. Next over he had their opener caught for 28 by what can only be described as a nailed on catch of the season contender by Tom. At silly mid-off, he made a dive to the ground with out-stretched right hand to clutch the ball that had popped up to his right. Batsman shook his hand!
Catching was not infectious though. At square leg Fordy had had a couple of missiles lobbed his way by the same player. Later skip could hold another long-on missile and any of those chances could have saved us 8 or 10 runs. Fielding again was fairly tight but a few mis-fields saw a couple more runs. These would all be important by the end if we but knew!
Apples behind the stumps wasn’t having a perfect day either. In Tom’s second spell an edge whistled past him and there are 3 byes in the book – no matter what he thinks about their cause! He did get a stumping though Pughy. And in fairness they had a very eager young lad who could have been stumped several times if it wasn’t for the delayed ball in from the field.
Gray touched the ball at least twice and made a very good impression on the standpoint he had.
After 30 overs, with Tom (9-4-10-2) and Leighton (9-2-30-0) used up, Prashad and Fordy came on. Prashad immediately got a wicket maiden. The other Carmel bat at this time was Father Vitin, the priest with a very uncharitable attitude to short bowling. Back to a cow corner field – he had a couple of boundaries from Fordy until his third over when he skied one to Venkat in the deep for 23.
Once Prashad finished (9-3-16-3) Andy came on to join Fordy as the death bowler for the last 4. They added 4 runs for their last two wickets, all out for 100. Fordy (4.2-0-14-2), skip (2-1-2-1). They had got away from us and it didn’t feel like an easy score, but we were not seriously worried.
At tea Leighton got called away so we were down to ten men.
We knew Dafydd would be tricky to face and the other opening bowler was pretty quick. We struggled from the off on this wicket. Apples and Siv opened and after 6 overs we had 5 runs on the board. In the 7th Apples played across the line and was bowled for 4.(6-1). Nice to see Dan Owen back in the UK who came in as no 3, faced one delivery which was an lbw shout and then played one at least 3 feet wide of the stumps that bobbled back and knocked a bail off. (8-2).
In came Tom, ship-steadier in chief, and he played respectfully to this tricky opening pair. Siv meanwhile was noticeably revving his motors in frustration. A few near misses picked up a few ones and twos, and with more extras we were picking up slowly. No 2 bowler was replaced and he started to look a bit more expensive. But in his second over Siv hit out again and this time found the fielder at point. (3-29).
In came Will, again many dot balls whistled past, but after posting 2 runs was bowled by their No4 in his first over. (4-35 after 19).
Andy next – facing this first change pair who were accurate and hard to get away. He managed to stay with Tom for 10 overs, the Jack Leech to his Ben Stokes but on diazapam (Jonty our resident medical expert will understand the allusion here), which saw Tom score the only two boundaries of our innings. Running was quick and in the 31st over, Tom was short of his line after a most unexpected direct it. Run out and we were (73-5), Tom out for a very patient 30. Next ball Andy looked to dab away a square pull and top edged it to square leg for 7. (73-6).
In came Prashad and Venkat, pressure was mounting. Venkat faced six deliveries and on his first attempted shot was caught. Prashad was patiently nibbling away and now joined by Fordy, but the overs were ebbing away with a run rate needed at 5 an over. On the boundary both sides were getting edgy. They smelt blood on a thick grass carpet. We haven’t had one of these games for a while! Fordy managed to get a few away and was keeping us in the battle with Prashad, but each over just couldn’t put a boundary in. By the last over we needed 8. Fordy took a swipe and was caught for 9. Gray pulled up the rear – faced three deliveries for a single and Prashad on the penultimate ball tried a square cut and got caught at point for 11. All out for 95 and our first loss of the season.
Carmel had two boundary getters and some very tight bowling which delivered them this victory. Congratulations to them in a very close fought game. Thanks everyone for turning out – two nervy games to go!