What a day - truly when we are grey and old we will remember the day we beat the feared Windies side with a complete performance of batting, bowling and fielding.
Our fielding was tiggerish, our bowling tight and our batting the complete package - in short we look like a team - and are turning into the dark horses of the tournament.
Bowling:
Putting them in [and resting our star bowler Deni] we allowed Q and Bobby Forrest to open; Forrest is a robust, "meaty" all rounder and he produced the self-proclaimed "ball of his life" to get us on our way. Q took 4 wickets and ran one out in a spell of 4 for 12 off 7; but his day was made by the catch of the day [and frankly any day] by Mat "The Crooner" Gullick who took the Windies captain with a diving, running, tumbling catch at deep mid wicket that was all salmon leaping and part wounded buffalo [and a bit more besides].
On a hattrick Q bowled the worst ball of the day - which he wished on its way with a cry of "thats rubbish".
Shock of the day was when Q threw the ball to Opperman - his startled off spinner - with words of encouragement that started with "Sorry to do this to you!"
To everyone's surprise GO's first ball resulted in a quicksilver stumping of their star batsman by "Fast Hand Bob" Percival [peer of the realm].
The celebration had to be seen to be believed. Opperman decided to prolong the moment by then bowling 3 successive wides, but the Windies were soon all out for 158.
It cannot be stressed enough how this was a sterling team effort in the field - the fielding was superb throughout
As dark clouds gathered we went out to bat.....
Batting:
Mat G and Jay got us on our way, but we were always slightly behind the clock. Jay made 42 and Bobby Forest then made a punchy 43 - proving what a great pinch hitter he is. The Windies kept crying "We've got to get Forrest out!" as we all cried "Run Forrest Run".
A mini collapse then saw Q taking the game to the enemy as wickets fell around him.
Olly M got an interesting decision from the umpires that - shal l we say - would not have survived a video replay.
It was getting tight as the rain approached and we looked to bring the game home...
At the end we were behind on the over rate and the clouds started to threaten and then the rain started... Undaunted Q saw us home with a storming square cut that thundered past our dispirited opponents, as we were home with 3 overs to spare, just as the rain cascaded down..... Five minutes later and the game was unplayable
As we finished the Windies gave us a lovely present of a Brian Lara signed bat - they were nice lads and a great match sees us 2 for 2 - bring on Pakistan.
Mentioned in Dispatches:
Jamie Williams is recovering from "swan" flu [half man / half pig] and showed us his huge tongue that is covered in spots - it is a worry that we may lose our sole Welshman, but he seems to be recovering.
Jamie and Dave Rhodes were clearing up in the rain and uttered the immortal words
"Right you get rid of the sledgehammer, and I'll rescue the parrot".
Tomorrow is Pakistan - bring it on!
Our fielding was tiggerish, our bowling tight and our batting the complete package - in short we look like a team - and are turning into the dark horses of the tournament.
Bowling:
Putting them in [and resting our star bowler Deni] we allowed Q and Bobby Forrest to open; Forrest is a robust, "meaty" all rounder and he produced the self-proclaimed "ball of his life" to get us on our way. Q took 4 wickets and ran one out in a spell of 4 for 12 off 7; but his day was made by the catch of the day [and frankly any day] by Mat "The Crooner" Gullick who took the Windies captain with a diving, running, tumbling catch at deep mid wicket that was all salmon leaping and part wounded buffalo [and a bit more besides].
On a hattrick Q bowled the worst ball of the day - which he wished on its way with a cry of "thats rubbish".
Shock of the day was when Q threw the ball to Opperman - his startled off spinner - with words of encouragement that started with "Sorry to do this to you!"
To everyone's surprise GO's first ball resulted in a quicksilver stumping of their star batsman by "Fast Hand Bob" Percival [peer of the realm].
The celebration had to be seen to be believed. Opperman decided to prolong the moment by then bowling 3 successive wides, but the Windies were soon all out for 158.
It cannot be stressed enough how this was a sterling team effort in the field - the fielding was superb throughout
As dark clouds gathered we went out to bat.....
Batting:
Mat G and Jay got us on our way, but we were always slightly behind the clock. Jay made 42 and Bobby Forest then made a punchy 43 - proving what a great pinch hitter he is. The Windies kept crying "We've got to get Forrest out!" as we all cried "Run Forrest Run".
A mini collapse then saw Q taking the game to the enemy as wickets fell around him.
Olly M got an interesting decision from the umpires that - shal l we say - would not have survived a video replay.
It was getting tight as the rain approached and we looked to bring the game home...
At the end we were behind on the over rate and the clouds started to threaten and then the rain started... Undaunted Q saw us home with a storming square cut that thundered past our dispirited opponents, as we were home with 3 overs to spare, just as the rain cascaded down..... Five minutes later and the game was unplayable
As we finished the Windies gave us a lovely present of a Brian Lara signed bat - they were nice lads and a great match sees us 2 for 2 - bring on Pakistan.
Mentioned in Dispatches:
Jamie Williams is recovering from "swan" flu [half man / half pig] and showed us his huge tongue that is covered in spots - it is a worry that we may lose our sole Welshman, but he seems to be recovering.
Jamie and Dave Rhodes were clearing up in the rain and uttered the immortal words
"Right you get rid of the sledgehammer, and I'll rescue the parrot".
Tomorrow is Pakistan - bring it on!
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