The Incredibles
Season finale against Conwy at home and with only a little competitive pride to play for, a relaxed affair against a similarly easy-going side.
Before play began though the usual pitch prep. All was going well, until the unruly lump of iron that is our roller had a couple of lines of the wicket before the drive chain split. It could have been a very tricky fielding obstacle until Tom – whizzing round the outfield on the John Dere – diverted to shunt the roller back off the field.
Readers who may think that at least a couple of rolls will have sorted out our usually erratic pitch should not get too carried away.
Toss won, with a full squad, we chose to field first.
Carwyn to open the batting as usual, but no Windmill this trip, who together were such a lethal combination at their place. Tom to open the bowling for us.
Second ball, a delivery that cut in and bowled for 0. New bat came in and cut the fourth ball for 4. Sixth ball he cross bats and skies a catch to Siv. 4-2
At the other end Euan, keen as mustard to get back into action, and finds good areas straight away. Two singles from his first over. Then back to Tom, three dots, a single and then Tom carves up the No.4 bat. 7-3!
Given our experience at theirs this was not what we expected, but delighted nonetheless!
Euan again from the other end, 2 runs, Tom just a bye in his next, Euan a single in his third. Runs were very slow coming, the pitch giving some variable bounce – the odd limbo dancer and the occasional trampoline.
Apples with the gloves today and with the number of expert eyeballs on him made some good stops to prevent any wayward deliveries causing much embarrassment.
Apples happy to get the gloves
In his fourth over Tom struck again – bowled and just too good for this line up and it has to be said he was really in control of what he was throwing down the track. 12-4. Clearly a proper nights sleep at last for Tom working wonders!
A picture of Tom on bedtime duty
Carwyn & I had discussed before the game that many results had ended up as a one-sided affair and it was starting to look like the game was going our way today. Another maiden from Tom and Euan unlucky not to get a sniff himself, they came off after ten overs.
Tom at that point 5-1-7-4! Euan 5-0-11-0. 18 runs on the board.
First change was to Umang and Sanath. Umang on the mark straight away and Sanath too finding some rhythm. In his second over Umang struck, getting a catch for a wicket maiden and he was a real handful.
Sanath after a good start saw 10 from his second and was replaced by Prasad. Umang continued and with Prasad they built more pressure.
In his second over Prasad had a smart catch by Venkat at point. Tom at this point was dejected, foiled in a mathematical wicket chase for seasons honours. However, we all clapped furiously in respect for such a feat.
Next over Umang again in the action – and Venkat with a fantastic one-handed catch lunging forward at point. A Golden duck for the unlucky batter, but our match form continued to sparkle.
Venkat – with shades – and his elastic arms
By now Conwy had gone from 40-5 to 40-7 in the 19th over. No change in the score by drinks and we were a little stunned if truth be told to find ourselves in this position. Umang at this stage (5-2-4-2)
The over after drinks Tom came back on in the hunt for his 5-fer. And sure enough, on his fourth ball he got it. Bowled their number 9 who was looking to carve it a little but undone by a gripper from Tom to be bowled.
Prasad kept plugging away from his end and despite some real quality from both of these two, a bit of resistance was being shown. Now in the field Prasad was getting a bit of grief. A reputation of being a little “laid back”, slow to chase was being bandied around. Just to disprove I’ve managed to get a copy of Prasad from a pitch-side speed camera…
In his last over Tom got his sixth wicket and finished (9-3-11-6). Career best we believe and an incredible day’s work.
Prasad finished (7-4-1-8). Venkat came on with Umang back to see if we could squeeze this final wicket. Great economy again from these two, they were 50-9 in the 27th over and Carwyn was digging in. No heaves and this continued until Venkat’s third over (the 34th) when a smart catch behind from Apples saw Carwyn caught and the end of their innings. 58 runs on the board and an amazing display from all the bowlers, with Tom taking the spoils.
Tea, a resigned affair for Conwy, and we eventually padded up hoping for a better response from our openers than last week. Having seen the pitch Conwy opened with two spinners – including Mr Wobble – and not exactly easy. Buit Apples off to a good start – two boundaries in the first over. Siv off the mark too in the next. Things motor along to 17 runs by the fourth. But in the fifth, Siv plays over a low one and gets bowled for 6. 21-1.
In goes Abs, match tactics ringing in his ears and he follows his first ball and tamely spoons it up to short mid -off. A Golden quacker and suddenly a few sweaty palms pitch-side. Of course, we tried to break the Siv/Apples umbilical cord, but 3 overs later with four runs added, Apples half-beans a drive over mid-off and fails to capitalise on a promising start. 17 and 25-3.
Next in were Sanath and then birthday boy Will. Sanath not as swingy as last week, but still tried to get a few away, though because of the accuracy in bowling and pitch variances, had to settle for singles and twos in the main. Will connected better and several boundaries, so that the run rate, having added 10 runs between overs 5 and 10 (21-31) those boundaries started to tick over. Quicker bowlers brought on, but a bit erratic and Conwy couldn’t afford any mistakes. By the thirteenth the score was 44. In the 14th, on 53 runs now gets given lbw by Tom as umpire. A bit of a double take decision, both for Tom who swung away and returned with a finger – and for the keeper who said that was never!
Anyhow, Prasad sprinted out to the middle and within a few balls it was all over. Sanath smashing an attempted six but fell short.
13 points, we pull clear of Bethesda in the table and finish 5th. A great season in all reflection and much to reminisce at the end of season dinner.
Tom put in another match winning performance and whether bat or ball is a real game changer. But great performances all round – Abs again pounced on everything, Venkat’s catch but actually a great team performance from all.
As the season changes so too on these pages. I am stepping down as skipper as injuries, appallingly bad form and writers block catch up with me. I look forward to supporting more from a back seat and have every hope we continue in the same vein of form next season as this.
I look forward to seeing you all at the end of season dinner, where I can’t help but feel that duck will be on my personal menu, for some more fun and memories.
It’s been an absolute pleasure and I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have.
ABM.