MATCH REPORT WG V HOVE UNICORNS 28 JUNE 2009

MATCH REPORT WG V HOVE UNICORNS 28 JUNE 2009

WG 16- ALL OUT. HOVE UNICORNS 163-4. HOVE WON BY 6 WICKETS.

No Captain had been appointed for the exciting match against Hove Unicorns, so a brief Commitee Meeting was held between the senoir players and Club Captain where upon Tasker was given the responsibility for the day.

Good start by winning the toss and choosing to bat to everyones delight. Tasker demanded 50 on the board in the first hour for no loss with a competitve total of 250 by tea!

The batting order was then organised, so as we had a team of bowlers (10) this created its normal problems of keeping all happy. Tasker overheard a converstaion with Lloyd believing he would rather bat than bowl and decided to put him at 2 with Steve Newham. Atkinson got the strop and Lloyd had a heart attack. (His highest score in any form of first class cricket being 5)

Newham and Atkinson then proceeded to put on an opening partnership of 50 plus, Atkinson taking half an hour to get off the mark (Cries of Wobbler from the bench) but finally remembered what the piece of wood in his hands was for and joined Newham in playing some wonderful shots all around the ground.

When Newham fell for 30, Brinky came in at 3 and played a nice respectable innings for 27. Atkinson fell short of a well deserved 50 on 42.

Then came the big middle order of big hitters? Buckle yorked going for a lusty straight six (2), Tasker caught on the boundary going for a lusty straight six (At least I connected) (6) then Cornwell and Barrett cheaply, obviously saving their particular skills for the bowling?

Fantom then saved the day with an excellent 33, (Because his Mum was watching) Lloyd kept up his standard with 1 followed by Westy with 0 (Made Brinky's day) and finally M. Fellows with a well crafted 2 not out.

Final score 161 all out. (Not what the Captain wanted, but with all those bowlers???)

On resumption, Tasker kept wicket and opened with M. Fellows and Westy. A promising start, tight but unlucky. But no worries plenty of bowlers to come!

A genius move by the skipper brought on Lloyd Higgins and moving the field got the first breakthrough with an excellent diving catch by M. Fellows.

Fantom commenced his first spell of terror and completely lost his radar followed by Atkinson who believes Steph is a 'Big Girlie' and makes Brett Lee look like a leg spinner. Tight and aggressive but no joy. Brinky came on to steady the ship but alas no wickets. Followed by Barret and Cornwell who by this point were up against batsmen who were well set and cruising nicely. But they bowled with passion but no luck.

As a result defeat was on the horizon, so Skipper Tasker turned to Fantom once again and informed him to let loose and plunder the opposition. I want blood on the wicket! Bowl as fast as you can. (Now Atkinson was the 'big girlie') (In fairness to Atkinson, one ball he bowled down the leg side nearly broke my finger with sheer venom!)

So with fine leg, fly slip, 4 other slips, gully and anyone else in a catching position, down he came and 'Bugger me' he flew!

3 wickets in nearly as many balls and a terrific catch by Barret in the slips. The 2 other wickets cleaned bowled!

With 8 overs to go they hit the winning runs. Despite having 48 bowlers we did not have the penetration or luck, the big hitters failed and Buckle refused to bowl to protect his average? Even Cornwell 'ran' and chased a few in the field?

General consensus of opinion was the crappy wicket. It looked awful, played awful (Consistant bounce etc) and was a complete disappointment. So well done all concerned on Sunday you were a credit to WG and great fun was had by all. It was a pleasure being Captain again. (Better than that young Fellows upstart)