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On a baking hot afternoon at Roasters Fields the skipper finally
tossed correctly and chose to bat in favourable conditions.
With an array of first team regulars on under the thumb duties, it
was left to some of the 2nd XI to step in, full of confidence from
the previous afternoon, and it showed. Gordie 'the daddy' Strachan
and Andy 'Boo Boo' Bonnett, the new opening pair, added a patient
24 for the first wicket, as steady bowling tied the pair down, restricting
Bonnett to just 3 scoring shots in his 41 ball stay before a looping
chance was taken in the gully. Gavin Oliver then joined Strachan,
and showed flashes of brilliance to the watching 'wife' as he gorged
himself on any full length, driving his balls back hard and straight
as he settled into the groove. Strachan was next to go, caught behind
for 20, bringing in whispering Cif Carvelly as the pair took the score
up to 94 before the South African was caught swinging in front for
19. The little maestro, Oliver was relishing the challenge and the
adoring crowd were deprived of seeing his 50 as he fell 5 short, bowled
by May. Neil 'Jaffa' Bartlett was next to go for a quickfire 16, but
it was then the turn of the returning Prince, Paddy Gardner, his first
game for 2 years, but he looked like he'd never been away. Ably supported
by Al Coz and Bradley 'Baileys' Bury, the silky left hander drove
and cut, somewhat Gower-esque, carrying his bat. 'Sucks' went next
for 23, Baileys then running hard as the rate grew ever higher before
being bowled for 21. Ed 'Pat' Butcher weighed in with a cameo, leaving
Gardner to smash the first 3 balls of the last over for 6. 238 the
target......
In response, fresh from some strong, but encouraging words the Roasters
flew out of the blocks. A blazing opening spell of devastating pace
from the Durban Destroyer saw him smash Jelberts leg stump out of
the ground with the score on 15. He followed that by yorking Danny
Tregear for 5 and then hitting Lee Brewer's sticks with the score
36-3. Ashley Weston was next to feel Carvelly's balls, right on the
elbow as he was cracked on the bone, several minutes before he could
continue. Butcher was the one to profit this time, Weston's tactic
of taking on the left arm 'swinger' failing as he skied to Bury at
mid on. Hood was next to go, Carvelly usually a fan of such things,
not today though as he enticed a catch, Bury again the poucher from
a slower ball. The openers now rested, 'Monty' Bury and Parish taking
less than 4 overs to lick the tail, Bury taking the last 2 wickets
in successive balls, a hat-trick awaiting the bearded spin king next
weekend maybe???!!!
A great win by 182 runs, and hopefully a return to form for the Roasters!
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