The first match in the C+H trophy was always going to a tight affair. With the captain arriving late Mr Evans won the toss and put us into bat. A classic mistake. The Chavs are by nature a tippy tap side that post average targets to chase and with few top line bowlers they can be taken to the cleaners. However when chasing a total their quality batsmen can dig in a keep up with the run rate. As Griff was stuck on Western Av and having only 6 fielders the power batting of the canes was brought out early.
Greg opened. Lewis umpired.
“The first ball of the match was of a good length and tempted the batsman into a drive, and the ball whistled through (via a ‘faint edge’) to the keeper who subsequently let out a solo appeal. The umpire agreed and dispatched Nicholas back to the pavilion.” Chavs Website.
Jaffa hit 38 then got caught in the deep, Danny was caught high and handsome, COB was superbly caught one handed, Lewis was caught and bowled nailing the ball back from whence it came, Jimmy was done by a catch near the boundary, Jeremy was tamely bowled through the gate. While all this was happening Griff and Jeremy were sure they heard a badger sniffing and snorting in the bushes behind the pavilion. With Griff, J-Lo, Dave and friend left the score needed to be pushed, 150 being defendable. Lazer tried before letting out a yelp before the ball had bounced. Obviously beaten by flight early he gave up on the shot and let it bounce then meander to his stumps.
Dave tried despite his condition, but was stumped. As the fielding side appealed and celebrated the wicket Dave, to his credit, stood his ground, as he saw no finger from the square leg umpire. Unfortunately for Dave the Umpire was a square leg fielder who stood still bemused as Dave tried to stare him out.
This left Griff and Jay at the crease. Griff, sensing Jay had the same condition as Senior Stagg nicked singles and ran hard for 2’s in between boundaries despite ignorant heckles from the crowd. Jay spanked some boundaries to his credit but was done with 1 ball left.
138 needed for the Chavs. Bowling needed to be tight. It wasn’t. Danny took the first wicket but the experience of the Chavs batsmen came to the fore. This year’s tip for bowling honours COB was punished severely and a boundary an over from most bowlers kept the Chavs in it. Badger looked his old self with ball in hand, Jaffa stood up well on a pitch that is his downfall with the ball but his pitch with the bat and Jimmy bowled with trademark economy. A superb catch in the deep, from the two times and only winner of the most catches award, gave Dave a wicket but the Chavs ended up deserved winners.
The Nathan v Nathan debate took a surprising twist in the Butchers as Jaffa admitted that Mr Rees could have made a difference. Oh yeh, Lewis came for a pint, is he single again?
MOM – Could be Greg for doing nothing wrong but is Jimmy for showing us all how to bowl.
— Griff
jimmy — May 31, 2009 at 12:34 pm
We need Mikey D back. He sets the tempo and everyone follows…
Griff — June 1, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Obviously on a good batting pitch you must take some risks to score runs. Simply keeping one up one end only slows the run rate down and gives the bowlers less to work with.